Ambassador Amir Maimon vows to ensure and overcome after attack
Israelis are banding together in a show of resilience after the Hamas attack left hundreds dead and thousands injured, the nation’s ambassador to Australia says.
Amir Maimon happened to be at home on a planned vacation when the raids took place south on Saturday. He will return to Canberra late on Tuesday.
Speaking from Hangar 11 at Tel Aviv Port where hundreds are packing goods to send to soldiers fighting in southern Israel, Mr Maimon said the scene was “Israel at its best”.
“It demonstrates in many ways the spirit of the Israelis, the resilience, the understanding that we are all responsible for each other,” Mr Maimon told AAP.
Amir Aimon Photo: Ilan Harris
Waking up on Saturday morning to sirens blaring, he thought it was a mistake or one of the relatively frequent barrages of missiles Israel experiences – until he turned on the TV to see news of the large-scale attack.
The ambassador said the subsequent stories of murder, kidnap, rape and torture were horrid.
“The story needs to be told because we are going to react and we will overcome,” he said, as sirens sounded in the background.
“We will launch a counterattack once we complete the preparation and we will make sure that Hamas will be stripped of their military capabilities.”
Mr Maimon suffered personal losses during the attacks, with a death in his wife’s cousin’s family.
He also buried former students and children of students he used to teach in his past life as a defence college instructor.
“It’s very painful,” he said.
There have been no confirmed reports of Australian casualties so far.
National landmarks across Australia have been illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag in a show of solidarity overnight.
There has been no request from Tel Aviv for Australian aid, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“We have offered political solidarity, our continued support and we are reaching out and engaging with other parties in the region,” she told ABC radio.
“What we are seeing is horrific, what would be even more horrific would be for this to escalate to beyond the current conflict.”
Mr Maimon thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Defence Minister Richard Marles and state premiers who had called him to offer their support, as well as the Australian people, as buildings were illuminated in the colours of the Israeli flag in a show of solidarity overnight.
AAP
