Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Eli Cohen met with 22 ambassadors and diplomats from different countries whose citizens were taken as hostage in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was held to give a call for the immediate release of the abductees and to allow visits of members of the Red Cross society.

It is worth mentioning that since the eruption of war on 7th October, many Israeli citizens have been taken into custody by the terrorist group Hamas of Gaza, Palestine.

Foreign Minister Cohen also stated that “Hamas crimes are unforgivable”. The act of Hamas, like the kidnapping of civilians, including babies, children, women and Holocaust survivors, is against every international law and every human norm, and it is a horrific crime against humanity.
“We will do our best to ensure the release of the abductees, regardless of their citizenship, he said.

Israel’s Foreign Minister also made it clear that with the cooperation of the other countries whose citizens are missing, Israel will be able to put significant international pressure on the Hamas terrorist organization for the safe and secure return of all the hostages from their custody.

He also reaffirmed his stand that the international organizations and the Red Cross Society members must be allowed to visit the abductees to verify their condition and the living places in which they are being held.

During the meeting with the foreign ambassadors from countries whose citizens were abducted by Hamas, he also asked for their cooperation in pressuring Hamas for their swift release of Hamas from their custody.

The ambassadors and diplomats were from Tanzania, Russia, Romania, Portugal, Peru, Serbia, Colombia, Austria, Ethiopia, Argentina, Philippines, Georgia, Sri Lanka, France, Mexico, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Thailand, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland and the European Union attended the meeting.

All the attendees of the meeting agreed to extend their full cooperation for the release of hostages. They also called the International Organization to expedite the effort for the release of the hostages.