Israeli envoy urges int'l community to put pressure on Hamas
Israel's top diplomat in Manila has called on the international community to put pressure on Hamas to stop its continued attacks on Israeli and its people, so those who are already getting affected by the war in Gaza can leave the territory.
Ambassador Ilan Fluss issued the appeal on Wednesday, Oct. 11, after Israel laid siege on Gaza, a territory governed by the militant group, and sealed off its borders, preventing countries from repatriating their locals there.
Amid concerns that foreign nationals in Gaza might not be able to leave the territory, Fluss rationalized Israel's actions to defend and protect itself.
He said Israel is now at war with Hamas and it has to make sure as a state that it is protecting its people.
"The border with Gaza is being bombed. The terrorists are still trying to enter into Israel. It is a war situation," Fluss said in an interview with ANC.
"The border to Israel is so dangerous now. And that we're still being attacked for the border. Hamas has to stop. Hamas has to recognize the State of Israel," he added.
Fluss called on the international community to put pressure on Hamas as well as on the countries supposedly supporting its terrorist activities.
He also supported the idea of withdrawing foreign assistance, such as of the European Union, to Gaza as such aid is only supposedly being used by Hamas for its dangerous activities.
"The problem is that Gaza, the Hamas, is getting foreign assistance and it's using it in order to arm itself and to prepare itself... for attacking Israel," Fluss said.
"I believe that the European Union does not want to help in arming and assisting a terror organization in its efforts to attack Israel and Israelis. I believe this is not the idea of the foreign assistance, and for that reason I think it's time to put much more pressure on Hamas to end either its occupation, to move elsewhere," he added.