The president of Romania, on a state visit to Portugal, expressed “firm condemnation” of the attack by the Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, which this Saturday caused dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries.
This was, in fact, the first topic of Klaus Iohannis’ statement to journalists, in a joint press conference with the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the Belém Palace, in Lisbon.
“This is a terrorist attack with toxic potential” to “destabilize the situation in the Middle East,” said the Romanian head of state, expressing “solidarity with Israel” and recognizing the “right to self-defense” of the Jewish State.
This “very sad day” takes us back in time, he also noted, referring to the longevity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We hope that the situation is controlled as soon as possible and that the parties return to the negotiating table,” he appealed.
The “Al Aqsa Storm” operation, launched today by Hamas, has already caused at least 40 deaths and hundreds of injuries, according to the Israeli relief services.
The operation began with “the launching of more than 5,000 rockets towards the heart of Tel Aviv,” announced Mohamed Deif, commander of Hamas’ Al-Qasam Brigades, in a rare public statement, published by the Palestinian Maan news agency.
Armed Palestinian militiamen managed to penetrate southern Israel, by land, sea and air, in at least seven places.
Israel responded with Operation “Iron Swords” and dozens of fighter planes began bombing various points in the Gaza Strip, causing a still undetermined number of victims.
Israel has declared a state of war and ordered the mobilization of reservists, while sirens continue to sound continuously in various parts of the country – including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem – while Gaza militias continue to fire rockets.
In Jerusalem, civilians left the streets deserted, many of them sheltering in bunkers, while numerous troops patrolled and thoroughly inspected streets, parks and shopping center parking lots.
Source: TSF
