23 US citizens have died fighting for Israel in Gaza war so far, nearly 10% of all IDF fatalities

Since the beginning of the ground operation in Gaza, 23 US citizens have died while serving in the Israeli military, making up nearly 10% of all IDF fatalities, according to the Washington Post.

Of that number, twenty-one perished in the Gaza conflict.

Three families of American citizens killed fighting for Israel were interviewed by The Washington Post. Having found in their adopted nation an identity that largely transcended their American passport, they were united in their fierce commitment to the Jewish state.

Experts noted that religious, nationalist, and Zionist communities in Israel and the West Bank are home to a large number of American immigrants. Large families with several members enlisting in the armed forces or serving as reservists are common. The Israel Defense Forces estimates that there are currently 23,380 American citizens serving in the Israeli military.

“It’s not surprising to see Americans disproportionately represented,” said Sara Hirschhorn, a visiting professor of history at Haifa University. “Many American Jews who have immigrated to Israel are very idealistic.”

At least thirty-two Americans lost their lives in the initial Hamas attack. Among the hostages that day were at least 11 more people who came from southern communities where many American families resided. Some of these individuals were left-leaning peace activists who had come to Israel decades earlier after being involved in the anti-Vietnam War and civil rights movements.

According to the State Department, six Americans are still detained in Gaza.

According to history professor Hirschhorn, Americans living in Israel are a reflection of the country’s diversity and activist culture, “both on the religious right and the secular left.”

Hundreds of Palestinian Americans fled from Gaza in the first weeks of the war. None of those who remained have been confirmed to be among the more than 29,000 people killed. The Gaza Health Ministry’s count does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths.