Defense Minister Benny Gantz issues an English-language statement appealing to the international community to back Israel amid the fighting in Gaza between the Israel Defense Forces and Hamas terror group.
Gantz says he ordered the IDF to launch Operation Guardian of the Walls after Hamas began firing rockets toward Israel on Monday evening.
“This was not a question of choice. It was a question of duty. Duty to our citizens. Duty to democracy. And duty to the values of life, freedom, and the rule of law. No country, institution, or international body can question our right to protect our citizens and our sovereignty,” he says.
He urges Hamas to “stop terrorizing our people. And stop terrorizing yours.”
“It is absurd that we do everything in our power to avoid hitting your civilians while you cowardly hide behind them,” he says.
Gantz also calls on every world leader “who values life and liberty to take a clear stand against this horrific violence” and support Israel’s right to defend itself.
“I also thank our partners, across the globe, for denouncing Hamas, terror and extremism and supporting the Israeli people’s aspiration to live free of fear,” he says.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, May 15, 2021
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