The death of Matías Burstein, an Argentine missing in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, has been confirmed by his mother. His wife, who was with him at the time he lost contact with his family, is still missing. The loss of the 41-year-old brings the number of Argentines killed in the Israel-Hamas war to eight.

Burstein’s mother, Fanny Surpín Burstein, confirmed her son’s death in a Facebook message to Argentine journalists on Tuesday afternoon. “Tomorrow, we will say goodbye to our beloved son Matías Burstein, who was killed in cold blood by Hamas,” she wrote. “We have a little hope of finding our daughter-in-law, of whom we’ve had no news yet.”

Matías was at the Supernova music festival with his wife, Einav. The event, which took place five kilometers from the Gaza and Israel border wall, was one of the first targets attacked by Hamas on October 7.

“[Hamas] riddled their car with bullets, and they jumped out of the car to find cover,” Fanny told LN+ television channel in an interview before Matías’ death was confirmed. “His last call was to a friend to tell them they were under heavy fire, and not from kalashnikovs, with much bigger arms. Then communication was cut at 7:30 in the morning.”

Fifteen Argentines have been kidnapped by Hamas, Argentina’s foreign ministry told the Herald on Tuesday. 

The Buenos Aires City government projected a video in the square outside Teatro Colón with the names and photos of Argentines and Israelis kidnapped by Hamas earlier this week. The video, created by the Argentine Zionist Organization, called for the hostages’ safe return.

Assistance for Argentines in Israel

Approximately 1,500 Argentine nationals have asked for emergency evacuation from Israel, according to the Foreign Ministry. Two flights returning Argentines from Israel have landed so far, bringing 506 people home between them.

To register for repatriation, Argentines in Israel have to enter a register that the Argentine consulate in Tel Aviv is compiling.

To be included, they must email [email protected] with their full name, national identity document (DNI) number, a phone number, their current location, a relative’s contact information, medical conditions (if any), and any other relevant information, the Foreign Ministry said.

Argentine nationals requiring urgent assistance in Israel should call the Tel Aviv consulate’s emergency number: +972 52 597 8359.

The Foreign Ministry has also launched a national phone line for people who need information or wish to inform the authorities about Argentine relatives who are currently in Israel and need assistance. They should call or send a WhatsApp message to +54 9 1140411522.