Humanitarian corridors need to be set up in Gaza, and refugees need to be provided with the necessary aid, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu told his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.
On Tuesday, Ciolacu visited Jerusalem to meet with Netanyahu and members of the Romanian community there, who have been affected by the deteriorating security situation in the area.
“Partners and friends must demonstrate their solidarity”, Ciolacu said, stating that Romania “firmly condemns the atrocities committed by Hamas, a terrorist group that holds the population hostage to satisfy its extremist interests”.
Ciolacu also told Netanyahu that “in the face of these attacks, Israel has the right to defend itself”.
Respect for democratic values and human rights is “essential for the swift reversal of these acts of violence”, he stressed.
Romania also called for the immediate release of all hostages and abductees and “urged to refrain from further acts of aggression, especially against civilian targets”, he added.
At the same time, Ciolacu called for the facilitation of humanitarian corridors in Gaza, where some 350 Romanian citizens live. Of these, some 250 have requested assistance from Bucharest to leave the area, which is currently impossible.
Ciolacu also met with representatives of the Romanian community in Israel, stressing that the Romanian authorities have assisted in safely repatriating over 2,200 of its citizens from Israel.
(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)
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