Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed the global community on Friday. He spoke on the war, the crimes committed by Hamas, and the victims of the terror organization’s violence. He also went on to state that Israel would defend itself and called on the international community to condemn Hamas.
Herzog’s address
“As President of the State of Israel, I speak to you right now from our capital, Jerusalem, in the dark shadow of war, while my nation continues to be under savage attack by a cruel and inhumane enemy.
“To the best of my memory, not since the Holocaust have so many Jews been murdered in one day. And since the Holocaust, we have not witnessed the sight of Jewish women and children, grandparents - even Holocaust survivors - being pushed into trucks and taken captive.
“Hamas imported, adopted and duplicated the crimes of ISIS. Hamas entered civilian homes on Saturday, a holiday, and murdered entire families in cold blood. Young and old, burned bodies and tortured their innocent victims. Jews, Muslims, and people of all religions. The cruelty. The inhumanity. The barbarity of monsters.
"Not humans - monsters.
“Over the past few days, I have spoken with leaders from around the world who have expressed their deep outrage at the attack - including the Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, the heads of the European Union, the United Nations, NATO and others who are close to us, such as the friend of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed.
“I call on all the nations around the world:
1. First, the actions of Hamas must be clearly and loudly condemned. Just as you condemned the abominable and unimaginable acts of ISIS, because today, they are the same.
2. For those countries that have not yet done so: Declare Hamas a terrorist organization.
3. Clarify that Hamas bears full responsibility for the safety of the hostages it took, and demanded their immediate return to Israel.
4. Support Israel. in words and deeds.
“Israel, for its part, will continue to defend itself.
“The Government of Israel, Prime Minister Netanyahu, the IDF and all Israeli security agencies have my full support. We will act with full force and unwavering commitment to eliminate the threat to our people. We will pursue all those who commit and support these criminal acts against us. I know our spirit, the Israeli spirit will prevail .
“Unfortunately, there are hundreds of bereaved families all over the country, thousands of injured people who are being treated in hospitals all over the country. Today and yesterday I visited some of the wounded at Assaf Harofeh Hospital and Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva, one of the best medical centers in the world - if you want to witness the great spirit of our nation, the great spirit of the people of Israel, you can see it in hospitals and throughout the State of Israel.
“You will find citizens united and committed to finishing as winners.
“That none of the countries in the region will make the mistake of thinking of acting against us. Israel is a strong country and will mobilize all its strength and power to defend ourselves.
“I pray for their speedy and complete recovery, I pray for the bereaved families, and I pray for the safety of the hostages.
“And despite all this, with the unity and support of our brothers and sisters from the Jewish communities around the world, with our friends all over the world, I know that Israel will come out stronger, more resilient, and more united.”