Michael Herzog, the Israel ambassador to the United States, has issued a strong appeal to the international community to put pressure on Hamas to release hostages who have been taken in recent incidents. Herzog emphasized the urgency of the situation and called upon the world to condemn the act, categorizing it as a war crime.
"We ask the international community to call upon Hamas to release them unconditionally because taking hostages is a war crime," Ambassador Herzog stated during an exclusive interview with CNN's Kaitlan Collins. He conveyed that while the situation was evolving, the identity and exact number of hostages remained unclear. Herzog, however, confirmed that among the hostages were citizens of Israel, the United States, and other nationalities.
When asked about the fate of the hostages, Herzog expressed uncertainty, stating, "I'm not sure if any hostages have been killed at this point."
Addressing the issue of evacuating foreign nationals from the Gaza Strip, Ambassador Herzog highlighted the collaborative efforts between Israeli, Egyptian, and US authorities to ensure their safe departure. With the border between Israel and Gaza firmly closed, these coordinated efforts are crucial in guaranteeing the safety of individuals caught in the conflict.
"The border between Israel and Gaza is closed – this is a warzone," Herzog explained. "We are under no legal obligation to provide them with anything save for the basic humanitarian needs for sustenance. We comply with international law."
Herzog also pointed out that Israel remained committed to abiding by international law, despite the ongoing conflict. He noted that Hamas, in addition to its acts of violence, had caused severe damage to critical infrastructure, including the destruction of ten power lines that supplied electricity from Israel to Gaza.