Israel's Ambassador Alleges 'Iran Support' To Hamas; Asserts On Need Of 'Very Strong Support' From India

Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has strongly asserted in a video press conference on Saturday, 7th October, that Iran is actively supporting and arming Hamas, the Palestinian militant group responsible for recent attacks on Israel.

Gilon emphasized that those responsible for these acts of terrorism will face severe consequences, and Israel will respond in its own time and manner.

Gilon stated during a press conference, "It's clear to us that Iran is involved with it. We know for sure about supplying weapons and training, and I will not exclude the possibility of Iran organizing or assisting in this specific attack. There is an attempt now to escalate tensions along the northern border, where Indian uniformed soldiers are stationed."

He also mentioned that Israel would not rule out the possibility of Iran aiding the terror group in the specific attack. He issued a stern warning to Hamas, stating, "The terrorists are going to pay a very big price. We will act at our own pace, in our own choosing, the way we want it" as quoted by ANI.

During the press conference, Gilon highlighted that Hamas is using civilian populations as shields and alleged that the group is holding Israeli hostages to portray themselves as victims.

He stated, "We know Hamas from the past; the next thing, they will start hiding behind the civilian population. Now they also have Israeli hostages to hide behind and present themselves as victims. This has always been the issue."

Addressing the situation in Gaza, Gilon acknowledged the challenge posed by the presence of civilian hostages but expressed confidence in Israel's ability to manage it. He mentioned Israel's defense systems, such as the Iron Dome, and safety protocols that help minimize casualties from missile and rocket attacks.

Gilon further explained, "The only issue we have here is the presence of human civilian hostages in Gaza, which will be complicated, of course. But apart from that, I think we are stabilized. Rockets are coming, but we know how to deal with them. We have the Iron Dome and our safe room procedures. By following these protocols, we can usually minimize casualties from missiles and rockets, allowing us to take the necessary actions to prevent such incidents from happening again."

Regarding the recent Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, Gilon said that the attackers had killed and abducted numerous individuals, including children and women. He stated, "They (Hamas) murdered, hijacked, children, women, and the elderly. The numbers, which will unfortunately increase, currently stand at over 300 killed, murdered, and some kidnapped. We have not received any information about Indian foreign nationals being involved. There are more than 1800 wounded."

Gilon expressed gratitude for the support Israel has received from India, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging India's understanding of terrorism and its influential role in the world. He stressed the importance of India's support in allowing Israel to take the necessary measures to counter Hamas.

"We will need this very strong support of our Indian friends and India as a very influential country in the world, as a country that knows terrorism and understands the crisis, it will be very important for us to give us the ability to do what we need to do in order to make sure that Hamas will not be able to continue doing atrocities", said Gilon as quoted by ANI.

Regarding the conflict's outcome, Gilon expressed confidence in Israel's ultimate victory against Hamas, emphasizing that it is the only option in the face of such threats.

He stated, "It's not that it's easy to defeat us, and you know why we will prevail. We will prevail because we have no other option. Throughout history, Jews have suffered persecution and killings in many countries, not in India, of course. Once we established our own country, we faced numerous wars and challenges, but we always prevailed because we had no alternative."

The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in a significant loss of life, with over 400 casualties reported, including dozens of soldiers and police officers.

Additionally, more than 2,048 people have been wounded, with some in critical condition. The conflict has involved rocket attacks and a ground assault by Hamas, with ongoing confrontations near the Gaza border. Several Israelis have also been taken as hostages in Gaza, according to reports.

(With inputs from ANI)