The Romanian Opera House in Bucharest (ONB) hosted on Monday an emotional event dedicated to the commemoration of two years since the Hamas attack on Israel, a ceremony termed by ambassador Lior Ben Dor as "very important" for "letting the public learn more about what exactly happened on October 7, 2023".
"As it was said here, it is very important that the entire public knows more about what exactly happened on October 7. We cannot know precisely, but we must try to understand. (...) Everyone, we hope, must understand why we are there, in Gaza, why this war is very long and very complicated. Why we cannot stop before we have surefire guarantees that Hamas does not loom there as a security threat to us," the Israeli diplomat told a press conference after the commemorative event organized by the Embassy of Israel in Bucharest.
Lior Ben Dor, who spoke in Romanian, emphasized that the war cannot be stopped before the 48 Israeli hostages return home.
"We cannot stop before we know that the 48 hostages return home. And with all due respect to many countries and nations in the international community, now that Hamas is weaker, and Hezbollah, and Iran - which stands behind them - are weakened, and the Houthis are weaker, now the countries and our neighbors and many of our friends can more easily talk about a solution, stability and reconstruction in Gaza. But we are there, on the ground, and we are the ones doing the work. Therefore, we hope and expect that the international community also understands us and provides us with moral support," the ambassador said.
Asked if he hopes for a quick release of the hostages, Lior Ben Dor replied: "Yes, yes, of course we hope for that. That is why they are now holding negotiations in Egypt. (...) It has already been stated by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu that we can reach an agreement. But now it's the details that count. We hope that Hamas understands that now is the time, because if Hamas does not agree with the release of the hostages and does not agree to lay down their weapons, then we cannot stop, and unfortunately we must return to exerting military pressure."
The diplomat emphasized that Israel does not want to continue military operations and is willing to forge an agreement.
"We believe the time is ripe for reaching an agreement. When we see the 48 hostages back home, then we will be able to stop military operations and we'll be able to talk about the reconstruction of Gaza and other important things," the diplomat pointed out.
Lior Ben Dor welcomed Romania's solidarity and support for the State of Israel.
"Romania helps us, supports us and has shown solidarity, and support for us is very important. We need moral support, and I think we are receiving it from Romania. Romania has made it clear that Israel has the right to defend itself, that all the hostages must return home, that Israel has the right to self-defense. We feel that Romania is helping us at governmental level and that the people stand with us. And we thank you!," the ambassador said.
Lior Ben Dor was asked what will happen after the release of the hostages and if there is a plan of action for the Gaza Strip after this moment.
"It will be gradual, but we will be able to pull out of Gaza, to stop the military operation in Gaza, but it will take a long time. It is still premature to talk about how it will look in the end. But we want to live in peace and quiet with our neighbors, including our neighbors in Gaza. But to get to this point and this state of affairs, we need the guarantee that Hamas does not exist there anymore as a terrorist organization. At least not the way it was before October 7. We must make sure that Hamas will not be able to perpetrate what they did on October 7," Lior Ben Dor said.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Chen Kugel, president of the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Israel, declared that he has seen ordinary war wounds, 'normal' wounds, gunshot wounds, explosions and so on," but also "some unusual things."
The commemorative event at the Opera Hall included a dialogue between the general director of the Bucharest University Emergency Hospital and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the 'Carol Davila' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Catalin Cirstoiu, and Dr. Chen Kugel.
Pianist and composer Gil Shohat offered an artistic performance, that also saw the participation of Dr Chen Kugel - this time as a pianist, and of pianist Alexandru Burca, along with baritone Alexandru Constantin and instrumentalists of the Bucharest National Opera Orchestra led by conductor and ONB manager Daniel Jinga.
Atrocious, never seen before images from the massacre of October 7, 2023 were presented during the event.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, killing at least 1,400 people, mainly civilians, who were shot, mutilated or burned alive, the Israeli authorities said.
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