【Stand with Israel】event held in Guangzhou .Representatives from the Jewish community in South China and consulates of many countries in Guangzhou attended the event to support and express solidarity with Israel, and to express condolences for the lives lost in this war.
On Saturday, October 7, during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, hundreds of thousands of Israelis were heading to synagogues to celebrate the holiday and Shabbat with their families when a brutal attack began. Hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel at various locations while firing thousands of rockets into Israeli territory. Many people were killed by the Hamas terrorist organization, and some were taken to Gaza as hostages. Israeli President Herzog: "Never since the Holocaust have so many Jews been killed in one day." During this tragic period, the Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou held the "Stand with Israel" event. People from the Jewish community in South China, social figures, and representatives of many countries’ consulates in South China attended the event to support and express solidarity with Israel, and to express their condolences for the lives lost in this war.
Alex Goldman Shayman , Consul General of Israel in Guangzhou: Thank you for joining us tonight in support of Israel during one of our most difficult times. We are ten days into the horrific attack, and we are still trying to digest what happened, and every day we discover new stories of horror and bravery from that horrific attack. As an Israeli diplomat, I want to emphasize that Israel is fighting terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip. A war we did not start. Terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip, led by Hamas, have launched attacks against Israeli citizens. This was a brutal attack on civilians and was very similar to ISIS's modus operandi. I would also like to thank the many good-hearted countries who immediately condemned Hamas and supported Israel’s rights and obligations to protect its citizens. We were moved by the moving speech by US President Joe Biden and the statements of support signed by France, the UK, Germany, Italy and the US.
As an Israeli, I also would like to share, in addition to the concern for our citizens who are under rocket attack from the south and the north, and the concern for our soldiers who are fighting, I also feel extremely proud. Proud of those amazing people who took immediate action to save lives, proud of those heroes of retirement age who, as soon as they heard the news from the South, did not hesitate to put on their uniforms and join military operations to fight terrorists and rescue citizens hiding from them in the fields. Large numbers of Israelis come from all over the world to register with the IDF. Reservist recruitment rate has reached 130%. Today, every Israeli is doing what they can to help. Hundreds of civil aid initiatives, as well as thousands of donations and social projects, demonstrate solidarity and support among citizens.
Aviv Zell, Deputy Consul General of Israel in Guangzhou, said at the event: Israel is fighting against terrorist organizations. Today, we call on everyone to stand with Israel and fight terrorism together. We receive support from all over the world. Many buildings in the capital were lit up to show that they are not indifferent to what is happening to Israel and to show us that we are not alone in the ruthless war on terror.
Representatives of the consulates of various countries spoke and lit memorial candles, observed a moment of silence, mourned for the victims of this terrorist attack, and prayed for the hostages kidnapped to Gaza, hoping that they could return home soon.
