Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) is currently on his way to Israel together with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Both government leaders see the trip as a sign of solidarity with the country that is under attack by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. The Chancellor meets with Israeli President Yitzhak (Isaac) Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gilad Korngold, the father of a missing Austrian-Israeli dual citizen.
“We stand firmly on Israel’s side, and the Israeli people can rely on Austria,” the Chancellor said before the trip. “Hamas’ terror must be stopped,” he emphasized to journalists on Tuesday evening. It is also about how “we can all contribute to the release of the hostages.” Israel’s security has been part of the Austrian ‘reason of state’ since the government of ex-Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (ÖVP).
During his visit to Israel, Nehammer also plans a detailed telephone conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. “The aim of the efforts currently being made at all levels is to prevent further escalation. Because the Palestinian population also suffers from the terror of Hamas – they too are used as hostages of terror,” Nehammer said shortly before his departure.
Austrian still missing
Hamas launched a major attack on Israel on October 7. The fighters killed about 1,400 people – sometimes brutally: women were raped and burned, children were beheaded, soldiers were executed. Four Austrian-Israeli dual nationals were also killed and another remains missing.
According to media reports, Korngold’s son Tal Shoham, along with his wife and two children, were surprised by attackers in Kibbutz Beeri, and there has been no trace of them since. Videos suggest he was kidnapped by Hamas. The Islamists have kidnapped more than 220 people as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
Humanitarian catastrophe in the crisis area
Since the massacre, Israel has been carrying out air strikes against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Nearly 5,800 people were killed, according to the Hamas Health Ministry. However, this number cannot be independently verified. The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is considered catastrophic. According to the UN, there is a lack of fuel, food, water and medicine. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than thirty Austrians and their relatives are currently on Palestinian territory.
Austria and the Czech Republic are among the countries in the EU that fundamentally view the Israeli army’s current counterattack as legitimate self-defense. On the other hand, there are countries such as Spain, Ireland and Belgium that are critical of Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and call for a humanitarian ceasefire in view of the many civilian casualties. Developments in the Middle East will also be the subject of the EU summit, which starts in Brussels on Thursday.
“Beneficiary of Czech infrastructure”
Nehammer travels to Israel aboard a Czech government plane. The Chancellor said he was “very grateful” to his colleague Fiala for this opportunity. “We benefit from the Czech infrastructure,” the Chancellor said. Nehammer and Fiala also plan to visit Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital together to meet the injured and relatives of those who died there.
Numerous international politicians have visited Israel since October 7 and expressed their solidarity. Among them are US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French head of state Emmanuel Macron.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
