9:11PM IL: During a briefing in the situation room of the Foreign Ministry, Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a short time ago confirmed two Israelis have been killed in the Istanbul blast and possibly a third, based on evidence and information available at this hour.

Mr. Netanyahu adds that the two families have already been updated by officials. In addition, among the over 50 people reportedly wounded are 11 Israelis, with some in serious condition as reported earlier.

Both a MDA and IDF plane have departed from Israel, heading to Istanbul to being dealing with bringing home the wounded and the dead HY”D for kvura.

Mr. Netanyahu adds no less than 15 people are working in the Israeli diplomatic facility in Turkey, facilitating communications between the two countries. One of the main focuses of Israeli intelligence officials at this hour is to determine if the suicide bombing was targeting the Israeli culinary group, or possibly another target, such as the local government office on Istiklal Street, the pedestrian shopping center where the blast occurred shortly before 11AM on Shabbos morning, 9 Adar-II.

The Prime Minister added that efforts to locate a number of Israelis listed as “out of touch” in Istanbul continue at this hour as well.

Photo: PM Netanyahu consulting with officials in FM situation room.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Media Resource Group)