Int’l community urged to back Israel amid skirmish from Hamas assault
People inspect the ruins of a building destroyed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City on October 8, 2023. Fighting between Israeli forces and the Palestinian militant group Hamas raged on October 8, with hundreds killed on both sides after a surprise attack on Israel prompted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to warn they were “embarking on a long and difficult war.”
MANILA, Philippines — Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss is calling for support from the international community against what he described as terrorist attacks of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on his country.
During an online media briefing Sunday, Fluss said that among the things the Philippines and other countries can do to help are expressions of support, condemnation against terrorism, and expressions of friendship with Israel.
READ: Israel ‘at war’ as Hamas gunmen launch surprise attack from Gaza
“We expect support from the international community, including the Philippines… expressions of support, not to put pressure on Israel, expressions of condemnation vs. terrorism, expressions of friendship with Israel,” he said.
“I leave [it] to the Philippine government to decide in what way they express their support to [for] Israel,” he also said.
Information on whether there are Filipinos affected by the assault is still being verified, he added.
READ: PH embassy in Israel closed until further notice following Hamas attack
Fluss likewise noted that he does not see the current situation affecting the global prices of several commodities, citing that Israel is a “relatively small country.”
“In my personal analysis, I don’t see any global economic ramifications as to what is happening,” he said.
According to Fluss, Hamas is still operating in the southern portion of Israel but Israeli defense forces are currently fighting and trying to gain full control of the situation.
He said more than 250 Israelis have been killed while 1,600 have been injured and 100 have been kidnapped and captured as hostages in Gaza since the surprise Hamas attack on Israel started on October 7.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed “mighty vengeance” against the Islamist group.
