New York, 9th July, 2014 – In meetings at the UN in New York, the European Coalition for Israel has condemned the intensifying rocket fire into Israel.
In a statement issued in New York on Wednesday, ECI Director Tomas Sandell “strongly condemned the continuing rocket fire into Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
”No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians, and we support Israel’s right to defend herself against these vicious attacks,” he said.
He expressed his condolences to the families of all innocent victims, on both sides, reiterating that every effort should be made to protect civilians.
He called upon the international community unreservedly to condemn the use of human shields by Hamas militants who choose to purposely hide behind Palestinian civilians. It is therefore Hamas who bear the responsibility when civilians are hit inadvertently.
On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “condemned the multiple rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza” and said that “these indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas must stop.”
Meanwhile in Brussels, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton echoed the demand by Ban Ki-moon by condemning “the indiscriminate fire into Israel by militant groups in the Gaza Strip.”
EU’s Ambassador to Israel, Lars Faaborg-Andersen, visited Southern Israel on Tuesday where he expressed “unreserved solidarity” with the embattled Israeli civilians living under constant rocket fire.
“Indiscriminate shooting of rockets against innocent civilians can never be a legitimate response,” said Faaborg-Andersen.