Famous Israeli TV star Lior Raz took to Instagram to share a strong note of defiance for those who are criticising Israel for the magnitude of its retaliation to the terrorist attack led by Hamas on innocent Israelis.
“Israel, the only country on earth that needs to defend itself for defending itself,” Lior Raz said in an Instagram Story, indirectly referring to the human rights criticism Israel has been facing for its air strikes on Gaza, which Palestinians living there, Arab nations and human rights groups have termed as attack on innocent civilians.
Lior’s statement reflects the sentiments of many Israelis who believe they are being unfairly judged for the magnitude of their government’s retaliation to Hamas attack on Israel.
Social media, college and university student groups as well as civil society in the US and other Western countries as well as in Asia and Africa are divided over who to side with as tensions between Israel and Palestine reach fresh levels.
Lior Raz, who starred in television series ‘Fauda’, is currently on the frontlines of Israel’s war against Hamas. He joined the volunteer group ‘Brothers in Arms’ accompanied by the president of the Israel Democracy Institute, Yohanan Plesner, and journalist Avi Yissascharov and earlier shared a video clip earlier this month where he and Plesner are seen sheltering from Hamas rocket attacks in Sderot.
‘Fauda’ is an Israeli television series loosely based on the experiences of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) and is available for streaming on Netflix.
At least 200 people were reported to have died on Wednesday when a missile struck a Gaza hospital compound. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which runs the territory, accused Israel of being behind the strike. The Israeli army blamed it on a misfired rocket attack by Hamas ally Islamic Jihad, which has described the accusations as “lies”.
Arab nations condemned Israel for its alleged role in the attack on Ahli Arab Hospital and Israel’s western allies urged that humanitarian aid should reach Gazans stranded in the coastal enclave.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, reiterating what he called “two urgent humanitarian appeals”.
(with inputs from AFP)