The account of the dead French since the attack by the Palestinian movement Hamas against Israel on October 7 has increased even more, reaching 40, while another 8 are missing, announced today the French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne.

“This morning the toll reached 40 dead and 8 missing,” including “apparently there are hostages,” Bourne told France Inter radio station.

A previous report spoke of 39 dead and 9 hostages or missing.

Britain announced that around 100 British citizens they have managed to leave, through the Rafah crossing, the Gaza Strip which is constantly bombarded by Israel.

Fourteen British citizens have lost their lives since the start of the war and three more are missing, “which doesn’t necessarily mean they’re being held hostage,” Energy Minister Claire Coutinho told SkyNews television.

In response to the Hamas offensive, Israel has so far launched nearly 2,500 airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, according to military figures.

Many hundreds of wounded, foreigners and dual nationals have managed to leave the Palestinian enclave since November 1 through the Rafah crossing into Egypt.

But Hamas on Saturday suspended those removals because of Israel’s refusal to allow other wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza.

Britain is trying to evacuate about 200 of its citizens from the besieged enclave and their families who have been registered in the relevant list, after they requested to be removed from Gaza.