King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands have expressed sympathy with Israel after the Hamas terrorist attack that has been described as the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust.
The King and Queen said: “Indescribable suffering has been caused by this weekend’s attacks on Israel. We convey our condolences and feelings of solidarity to President Herzog. Our thoughts are with the Israeli people and all the families affected by the violence or in fear for their loved ones.”
In the early morning of 7 October, Palestinian terrorists from the group Hamas infiltrated Israel by air, land and sea – killing at least 900 people and injuring 2,500. The group took over 100 hostages back to the Gaza Strip and is threatening to execute them on live video if Israel doesn’t stop its counterattacks.
Among the hostages is an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor, who her family fears is in extreme pain without her medicine. They’ve pleaded with Hamas to release the grandmother.
After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas and equated the attack to the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and Pearl Harbour in 1941.
Israelis were not the only victims of the atrocity as President Joe Biden said at least 11 Americans were killed in the slaughter. French and Thai citizens are also among the dead.
Israel’s counterattacks in Gaza have killed over 600 Palestinians, with the total deaths between both countries at over 1,500.