Edit... Dina El Sheriff

A spokesman for the US Embassy today declared: "A number of US citizens are among dozens killed or injured in a defense at a Jewish religious ceremony in Israel."

At least 45 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the disaster on the foothills of Mount Meron in Israel, Thursday and Friday night.

The speaker stated: "We can confirm that many American citizens were among those killed and wounded."

He added: "The American Embassy is working with local authorities to verify whether any additional American citizen has been affected and to provide all possible consular support to the affected American citizens and their loved ones."

For its part, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Consulate officials in New York are in contact with four families of the victims and the Embassy in Argentina is in contact with one family."

In this regard, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he had learned of the deaths of two Canadians in the disaster.

The Israeli Ministry of Health explained: "32 of the dead were identified late. The identification process was suspended for 24 hours in observance of the Jewish Sabbath and will resume its work this evening.

It should be noted that more than 20 of the injured were still in hospital until last night.