'Israelis Were Still In Their Beds When...': Envoy Gilon on Hamas Attack, Thanks India for 'Moral Support'

After a massive attack from the Gaza Strip, Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon on Saturday said the country is “determined” to retaliate to dual attacks by Hamas militants on Israeli citizens. He also thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending “strong moral support” to Israel.

In view of the unprecedented war-like situation in Israel’s southern parts that has killed at least 40 people and injured over 300, Israel launched ‘Operation Iron Swords’ to retaliate against it.

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News agency ANI quoted Gilon as saying, “Early this morning, when Israeli citizens were still in their beds. Hamas, the terror organization from Gaza, perpetrated a dual attack, both rockets toward Israeli civilians and ground attacks by terrorists against civilian population. Children, women, elderly, they have killed many and captured others. Israel will retaliate. Israel will go after the perpetrators and make sure they cannot repeat this kind of atrocities again.”

Responding to PM Modi’s post on X (formally Twitter), he said, “Thank you to the Indian people and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for your very strong moral support to Israel. We will prevail.”

Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared “war” and said his country would extract an “unprecedented price” from its enemy. “Citizens of Israel, we are at war. The enemy will pay an unprecedented price. We will win this war,” the Israeli Prime Minister said.

Indian Embassy in Israel Issues Advisory

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy asked all Indian nationals in Israel to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols.

“In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters,” the Embassy said in its advisory. The advisory gave relevant phone numbers in case of emergency and also provided URLs for Israeli Home Front Command and Preparedness brochures.

The advisory was issued in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages. According to the details on the website of the Indian Embassy in Delhi, there are about 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, primarily caregivers employed by Israeli elders, diamond traders, IT professionals and students.

There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel too that were part of the main waves of immigration into Israel from India in the fifties and sixties.

(with inputs from PTI)