A Tanzanian national who had been missing since being taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7 has been confirmed dead, Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

Joshua Mollel, 21, was a Tanzanian student who had been working as an agricultural intern at a kibbutz near Israel’s border with Gaza on Oct. 7, Tanzanian officials said.

“We have been informed by the Government of Israel that Joshua Mollel, a Young Tanzanian who was studying in Israel, and with whom we lost contact since October 7 2023, and with whom the Government has been making great efforts to obtain information on since then, was killed immediately after being captured by a group of Hamas on October 7th,” January Makamba, Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Tanzanian government has been in touch with Joshua Mollel’s family, Makamba announced, and aim to send his father along with another family member and Tanzanian government officials to Israel to meet Tanzania’s ambassador to Israel and speak with authorities to get additional information.

“With the consent of the family, and when necessary, we will provide additional information in the future,” said Makamba.

Mollel’s body is believed to still be held by Hamas within the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Foreign Ministry.