MANILA, Philippines – Umaasa si Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss na ang mga Filipino na sumusuporta sa Palestine ay may sapat na kaalaman sa giyera sa pagitan ng Israel at Hamas.
Sa panayam, iginiit ni Fluss na hindi nakikipaglaban ang Israel sa mga Palestinians kundi sa mga militanteng Hamas.
Nilinaw din niya na ang Hamas ang unang umatake sa kanilang bansa noong Oktubre 7.
Ang tugon na ito ni Fluss ay makaraang supalpalin ng mga aktibistang grupo ang military response ng Israel.
“It’s important for the people to understand that Israel — and I think what I was saying here was very clear, we are not fighting the Palestinian people,” dagdag pa ng envoy.
“The war is against Hamas,” giit pa niya.
“Hamas has murdered, butchered, 1,400 Israelis; has butchered and murdered at least four Filipinos and many other foreign nationals,” dagdag na paliwanag ni Fluss.
“We have to understand what caused this war. It’s a terror attack by Hamas against Israel on October 7, and the taking of these hostages, and that they have to come home.”
Sa kabila nito, wala naman umano siyang problema sa mga Filipino activist na sumusuporta sa Palestine.
“I believe it’s the interest of the international community to support the war against Hamas and to improve the life, at the end of the day, of the Palestinians,” ani Fluss.
“Until now, Hamas is not the Palestinian authority — so I think it’s important for people to learn to understand what is happening now, what is this war all about,” dagdag niya.
Nabahala rin siya na baka karamihan sa mga nagpoprotesta ay walang sapat na kaalaman sa totoong kwento tungkol sa kaguluhan sa Israel at Gaza.
“I would take it seriously if those demonstrators would also demonstrate for the release of the hostages and for the end of terrorism,” tugon niya.
“Then, I would say, ‘Okay. It’s something that we can talk about. That’s not coming.”
“And this is what’s worrying for me – that they are not looking on the real cause of what happened there, and that’s also the Philippine government is saying the same thing,” pagpapatuloy ni Fluss.
Wala namang binanggit na grupo ang opisyal kung sino ang mga nagpoprotesta laban sa aksyon ng Israel. RNT/JGC