A Montrealer of Jewish origin died in the deadly Hamas attack in Israel, near the Gaza Strip.
“Like a true warrior, he left like a hero wanting to protect the people he was with. Alex was a force of nature, endowed with unique charisma and unparalleled generosity,” his father Alain Haim Look said on Facebook.
Alexandre Look, whose parents live in Westmount, was visiting Israel, the Chabad of Westmount Educational Center announced Monday morning.
“He died in one of the terrorist attacks while heroically and selflessly saving the lives of others while repelling the attackers,” the organization said in a Facebook post. “We join our brothers and sisters in Westmount and around the world in mourning the devastation that has befallen our people and our land. »
Global Affairs Canada announced Sunday that it had learned of the death of a Canadian following the Hamas attack in Israel. Two other Canadians are currently missing.
“Canadian government officials in Israel are in contact with local authorities to confirm this information and gather additional information,” Global Affairs Canada said by email.
More than a thousand Canadians in Israel
Currently, 1,419 Canadians are registered with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service in the State of Israel and 492 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Since registration for this service is voluntary, “it is not a complete picture of Canadians abroad,” specifies the ministry.
All Canadian staff at the Canadian Embassy in Israel in Tel Aviv, as well as Canadian staff in Ramallah, are safe and sound, the ministry confirmed.
Hamas launched a surprise offensive on Israel early Saturday morning. Thousands of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip and dozens of fighters infiltrated the territory. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel was now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”
The Canadian government recommends avoiding all non-essential travel to Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The borders with Syria, Egypt and Lebanon should also be avoided.