NATO condemns Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel
NATO allies condemned the terrorist attacks of Hamas on Israel during a meeting of defence ministers on Thursday, October 12. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed the ministers by videoconference about the atrocities committed by Hamas against Israeli civilians and citizens of several NATO allies.
In turn, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO condemns the terrorist attacks in the strongest possible terms, adding that "Israel is not alone," according to a statement from the North Atlantic Alliance.
"The allies expressed their solidarity with Israel, noting that it has the right to defend itself proportionately against these unjustified acts of terror," the source also notes.
They called on the terrorist group Hamas to release all hostages immediately. At the same time, the allies clarified that no nation or organisation should try to take advantage of the situation or escalate it.
Israel is "launching a large-scale strike" on Hamas targets in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces said on October 12, as the conflict entered its sixth day.
According to CNN, Israel has mobilised 300,000 reservists near the border with Gaza in a massive troop mobilisation.
Hamas militants have taken about 150 hostages in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Over 1,200 people have been killed in airstrikes, health officials said, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, according to the UN. The only power plant in the enclave has stopped working.
US officials said at least 22 American citizens have been killed in Israel, and President Joe Biden confirmed that Americans are among the hostages.
On October 8, the Security Cabinet declared that Israel is officially at war and can undertake "significant military activities." This comes after Hamas terrorists infiltrated southern Israel on October 7, killing hundreds of people. The Israeli prime minister warned that "a long and difficult war" is ahead.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
