We give you below the letters of support from some of the foreign envoys who wrote to Israel Hayom in support of the people of Israel in the fight against Hamas
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US Chargé d'Affaires ad interim Stephanie L. Hallett
The United States stands firmly with Israel as it defends itself in the face of Hamas's horrific attacks. We share the deep grief of our friends whose loved ones were brutally murdered by terrorists. The heart aches at the thought of so many innocent lives cut down viciously: innocent men and women, babies, children, and the elderly.
The United States has Israel's back and our support is unwavering. As President Biden said, we will make sure Israel has what it needs to care for its people, defend itself, and respond to this attack. As we mourn the lives lost, including at least 21 American citizens, the United States resolutely stands with Israel. Additional military aid from the United States has begun arriving, and an aircraft carrier strike group has been deployed to the region to deter any country or organization that might think to exploit the situation.
Two months ago, I paid a visit to Kibbutz Reim in the Gaza periphery for a shiva call to mourn patrol officer Chen Amir, of blessed memory, who was slain by a terrorist in Tel Aviv while protecting the city's residents. Today, I mourn again with the people of Reim and their neighbors, and with all of Israel. In the beautiful and resilient communities of the Gaza periphery, where Chen was raised, people showed courage few of us can fathom. With such powerful resolve and eternal hope, the people of Israel will prevail. The United States stands with you.
UK ambassador to the State of Israel Simon Walters
Dear Israelis, it's hard to put into words what you are likely feeling these days. This is a terrible tragedy. Every person I've spoken to since this dark Saturday has been affected directly or indirectly by these horrific events.
Unfortunately, terror is something I know up close. I was born into the bloody conflict in Northern Ireland. There isn't and won't be any justification for terror.
The UK is clear and unequivocal in its support for Israel. We utterly condemn the terrorist acts by Hamas against Israeli and international citizens. There can never be a justification for the brutal targeting of civilians. The protection of the civilian population is a key element of International Humanitarian Law.
For the last few days, the UK government has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. Alongside the crucial work of supporting British nationals caught up in these horrific events, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly came to Israel today to show the United Kingdom's support. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has also spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu and reaffirmed the UK's support for Israel's right to defend itself. Prime Minister Sunak visited Finchley Synagogue in North London and joined a prayer for Israel.
I stand with Israel. The UK stands with Israel. Together, we will prevail.
Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu Ya'aseh shalom aleinu, Ve'al kol Yisrael.
Dimiter Tzantchev, EU ambassador to Israel
Since I first arrived in Tel Aviv as a young Bulgarian diplomat nearly 30 years ago, I have not only closely followed the situation in Israel, but also built and maintained close friendships. During my various postings in Israel, I have witnessed good times but sadly also many tragedies: wars, intifadas, terror attacks. Nothing shocked me more than the barbaric massacres carried out by Hamas on Saturday. Terrorists killed more than a thousand Israelis – including women, children and Holocaust survivors -- in the most brutal manner imaginable. We Europeans were quick to condemn this atrocious attack, to mourn the victims and to fly the Israeli flag from our public institutions to express solidarity with the State of Israel. "Israel has the right to defend itself -- today and in the days to come," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared immediately. These are difficult days, as all we who live here have to run to shelters to protect ourselves from ongoing indiscriminate rocket attacks. My thoughts are with all those whose loved ones were killed, wounded or abducted. May we know better times soon. Am Israel Chai!
Cyprus Ambassador to Israel Kornelios S. Korneliou
I arrived in Israel last July. Immediately I felt the warmth of the people, both at personal level and professionally.
The relationship between the two countries is shaped by geography, our history and the energy wealth. Our friendship goes beyond the Mediterranean Sea that unites us. Today, Cyprus and Israel are also strategic partners with shared values and interests. Cyprus, is the good neighbor of Israel, also home to thousands of Israelis who work and live on the island, just 40 minutes away from Tel Aviv.
The horrifying terrorist attacks against Israel not only have shocked us and unequivocally condemned by the Republic of Cyprus. Such atrocities cannot be justified by any civilized person. That was a dark moment which will stay with us and especially with the families of the victims.
At the same time, the resilience of the people of Israel and the people of Cyprus strengthens our determination to address the challenges the two countries are facing today.
We are fully committed in forming an ever-growing alliance based on true friendship.
The 7th of October of this year will be forever impressed in my mind and soul. The feeling of horror stems directly from our hearts. We are speechless and devastated.
Italy has expressed to Israel the deepest feelings of solidarity and support, from President Mattarella to President Herzog, from Prime Minister Meloni to Prime Minister Netanyahu, from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani to Minister Cohen. As Minister Tajani said yesterday in Parliament, "the Hamas attack is a brutal, unjustified and extremely serious act of aggression to be condemned without equivocation. Israel has the full right to exist and defend itself as well as to live in peace and security conditions."
I am honored to represent and serve Italy in Israel in this tragic time. I am here to share and help. Every time I see the flag of Israel, it will remind me of the 7th of October, but it will also remind me of the strength of the Jewish people, of the sense of purpose that guide it, of the permanence of the State of Israel in all its components that is here to stay for the benefit of the world at large. No question about it. If a light is shining in those dark hours, is shining from Israel.
Video: Terrorists in Gaza demolish border fence with Israel
Beyond words
The atrocities we witnessed recently are a savage assault on humanity. They are an affront to human conscience. But first and foremost they were a pogrom. They were deliberate actions in absolute disregard of human life and designed to not only kill but also to make the killing of Israelis into a criminal statement.
Time and again we read about the horrors in bygone times and we wonder how this was possible. In truth, we systematically forget the basic destructive power of fundamentalist ideology.
All such ideological constructions are conceived around dehumanizing the other. What happened on the 7th of October was a conveyor belt of a killing machine.
Israel has the legal and moral right to defend itself. We all have the duty to follow our moral compass and deny any room for discourse attempting to explain, contextualize or even worse, justify these atrocious deeds. There is no justification and no explanation. There never will be.
Attempts of any justification of mass murder will carry the weight of the crime. This is why anybody "translating" this vile attack done in the name of a fundamentalist, violent death cult ideology as "resistance" or "decolonization" will be as guilty as the killers themselves.
The terrorist organization Hamas should not be allowed to rule Gaza, to terrorize the Israeli people and also its own people. The Palestinian issue can be solved by engaging only with political actors that disassociate themselves from terrorism in all its forms and are willing to work for a rational, constructive path for the future of the Palestinian people.
Romania and Israel share 75 uninterrupted years of diplomatic relations. More than 600,000 Israelis have Romanian origin.
Romania stands by Israel. Our Presidents and Governments stand shoulder to shoulder. The Romanian people share the grief of the Israeli nation.
Am Yisrael Chai!
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