Netanyahu says Israel 'shoulder to shoulder' with US after Vegas massacre

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel stands “shoulder to shoulder” with the US “in mourning and sorrow,” after a deadly mass shooting during which at least 58 people were killed and over 500 were injured in Las Vegas.

“On this terrible day, the people of Israel stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people in mourning and sorrow,” Netanyahu, who is also foreign minister, wrote on his Twitter account.

“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and we wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We grieve with you.”

Gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire late Sunday from his 32nd-story hotel room at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, spraying hundreds of rounds at attendees of the country music festival. Paddock was found dead when police reached his room, following what officials described as the deadliest-ever mass shooting in US history.

President Reuven Rivlin sent a message to US President Donald Trump offering his condolences.

Stephen Paddock, the shooter in the Las Vegas concert attack (screen capture: Twitter)

“The people of Israel join me in sending our deepest sympathy to you, to the participants in the festival, the people of Las Vegas and to all the people of the United States following this shocking attack which took the lives of so many innocent people and injured so very many more,” Rivlin wrote, according to his office. “We stand with you as you mourn the terrible loss of life and injury following this senseless attack on people who had merely gathered together to listen to music.”

Israeli politicians also lined up on Twitter to condemn the shooting and offer well-wishes to the injured along with condolences to the families of the victims.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely wrote “Israel grieves with the American people over the senseless loss of innocent life in the horrific massacre in Las Vegas.”

Israeli officials said eight Israelis were unaccounted for and the consul-general in Los Angeles had traveled to Las Vegas to help locate them.

Addressing his US counterpart Paul Ryan, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein offered his “deepest condolences on the Las Vegas tragedy. We stand with you and the American people at this difficult hour.”

Education Minister Naftali Bennett tweeted: “The hearts of all Israelis are with the American people on this day of profound tragedy. We pray for the wounded. God bless you.”

Broken windows are seen on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino after a lone gunman opened fired on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2, 2017. (David Becker/Getty Images/AFP)

Opposition leader MK Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union wrote, “My condolences to the American people & the families affected by the horrific violence in Vegas. May the memories of the murdered be blessed.”

Opposition MK Yair Lapid, who leads the Yesh Atid party, wrote, “Thoughts & prayers with the United States. We send wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, hearts are with the families of the victims.”

“Horrific massacre in Las Vegas. Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families of the victims,” tweeted Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni.

The Jewish mayor of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, in a tweet, asked her followers to “Pray for Las Vegas.” She also thanked the first responders.