The Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman has played down report of war with Palestine.
Freeman, who addressed reporters on the war in the Middle East, which has led to the death of 2,000 lives on both sides, said Israel is presently not at war with her neighbour Palestine but rather has declared a total war with Hamas.
He said his country would do everything that it takes to make sure the group goes into extinction.
The envoy said the Saturday’s attack on Israel was the worst after the Holocaust.
He asked the international community to support the push of Israeli government to wipe out Hamas from the face of the earth.
Freeman said Israel was only doing what any other nation would have done if its territory was invaded and its citizen slaughtered, adding: “I am not going to give a description of Hamas, but would want everyone to describe what the group is with what it has been doing so far.”
Freeman, while alleging that Hamas is not only after Jews and Israelis, but every other group, including Muslims and Christians, added that he expects the rest of the world to support Israel move to wipe off the threat.
He said there is no other option, but to make sure that the group never exists again, revealing that Israel was ready to roll out everything needed to put an end to Hamas.
He admitted that civilian casualties should be expected in the war against Hamas as there was no war without civil casualties.
He, however, assured that Israel would not target civilians but Hamas though he noted that Hamas has threatened to put Israelis children and women in the warfront in the battle against Israel.
A United Nations commission monitoring conflict yesterday said there is “clear evidence” of war crimes committed by both sides during the intense violence in Israel and Gaza, including the targeting of civilians.
All those who violated international humanitarian law or targeted civilians must be held accountable, demanded the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021.
“Reports that armed groups from Gaza have gunned down hundreds of unarmed civilians are abhorrent and cannot be tolerated. Taking civilian hostages and using civilians as human shields are war crimes.
The commission also said it is “gravely concerned with Israel’s latest attack on Gaza and Israel’s announcement of a complete siege on Gaza involving the withholding of water, food, electricity and fuel, which will undoubtedly cost civilian lives and constitutes collective punishment,” it said.
The commission has begun collecting evidence of war crimes since the Islamist militant group Hamas launched massive attacks on Israel on Saturday and Israel responded with airstrikes in Gaza.
President Joe Biden yesterday again condemned the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke by phone earlier yesterday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the situation on the ground. Biden spoke out of the actions he and other allies have taken to support Israel in the aftermath of the attack and expressed his horror about “sickening” reports of torture inflicted by militants on innocent civilians.
“Our hearts may be broken but our resolve is clear,” Biden said. He added, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.”
Biden, in his public remarks and statements since Hamas launched its attacks, has repeatedly emphasised his shock over the breadth and brutality of the Hamas assault — a blitz by land, sea and air that surprised Israeli and U.S. intelligence and that has killed hundreds Israelis and left even more wounded.
