At NATO's headquarters in Brussels, a group of defense ministers found themselves in a state of shock and disbelief as they witnessed the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, presenting "shocking" and "horrific" footage from the recent Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, according to reports from diplomats.
Israel had pledged to take severe measures against the Hamas movement, which governs the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for what is described as the deadliest assault on Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. The attack occurred when a multitude of militants breached the border fence and launched an assault on nearby Israeli communities on a fateful Saturday.
The true extent of the devastation and loss of life gradually became evident once Israeli forces regained control of the towns and kibbutzes. In the aftermath, they encountered residences filled with lifeless bodies, revealing unsettling accounts of women who had suffered violence and lost their lives, as well as children who had been subjected to shootings and arson.
Minister Gallant, who attended the Nato session remotely, delivered a comprehensive briefing on the attack and unveiled an "uncensored video of Hamas atrocities," as initially reported by the Times of Israel. The impact of this presentation was profound, leaving one Western diplomat to comment, "It was horrific. It brought home to everyone the reality of what happened."
Another source described the footage as "graphic and shocking," and the Nato allies expressed their unwavering support for Israel, united in their stance.
The video footage contained "graphic elements" with certain parts blurred to preserve the dignity of the victims, as noted by an official present during the session.
Some ministers, including Germany's Boris Pistorius, publicly affirmed their commitment to assisting Israel. They granted Israel's request to utilize two Heron TP combat drones for its counteroffensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Pistorius stated, "We stand by Israel's side," adding that Germany would also consider requests for ammunition for naval vessels.
Israel has further sought assistance from Germany, inquiring whether they could provide flak jackets, medical supplies, and medical treatment for the injured individuals at German hospitals, according to an undisclosed defense source.
Following the session with Minister Gallant, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg delivered a statement declaring, "Israel does not stand alone." Stoltenberg had previously asserted that Israel possessed the right to defend itself and anticipated that Israel's response to the Hamas attack would be proportionate.
In the discussions among ministers on that day, Turkey appeared to be the sole dissenting voice, as it refused to characterize the Hamas attacks as acts of terrorism, according to one of the sources.
At the time of the reports, there had been no immediate response from the Turkish delegation to Nato or from the Turkish foreign ministry.
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