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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Civilians not a target: Envoy decries 'genocide' tag of Israel-Hamas war

Civilians not a target: Envoy decries 'genocide' tag of Israel-Hamas war

Published Oct 23, 2023 10:39 am

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss rejected the notion that his country is committing genocide in Gaza City, where a two-week war has erupted after Palestinian militant group Hamas stormed into Israel and killed at least 1,400 people.

Israel_Hamas2.jpgSmoke billows from the Gaza's Rafah border crossing Egypt during an Israeli airstrike on October 10, 2023. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)

Speaking on ANC, the envoy justified the violence in Gaza, a Palestinian territory de facto controlled by Hamas, by saying that their measures were targeting Hamas members, and they were “taking all measures to avoid having civilians affected" by attacks.

“We are informing civilians even before attacks: keep away from Hamas' infrastructure and Hamas' facilities," the ambassador said.

Fluss stressed that as a “responsible government,” Israel has to protect its own people.

“Of course, it's a war. In any picture of war, people are affected on both sides. We're doing our best to minimize (civilian toll) and this is what we have to do,” Fluss said.

“We informed citizens to move away from northern part of Gaza, which is the main concentration of Hamas facilities,” he added.

Violence in Gaza erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians.

In retaliation, Israel sent air strikes to Gaza and killed more than 4,000 people, Palestine’s health ministry said.

The violence has internally displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians as they were warned by Israel to move south from northern Gaza and has effectively stopped the delivery of water, fuel, food, and electricity.

Four Filipinos were also confirmed dead due to the conflict, while two more are missing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

Even then, the Philippines joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in calling for a ceasefire in the region and for all parties to ensure “the most effective and efficient access for humanitarian aid, and relief supplies and other basic necessities and essential services, as well as the restoration of electricity, water, and allow the unhindered delivery of fuel, food, and medicine throughout Gaza.”

Related Tags

genocide Israel Ilan Fluss Gaza Hamas attack
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