Hanoi, Oct. 8 (Prensa Latina) Foreign Ministry spokesman Pham Thu Hang said today that Vietnam is closely monitoring the escalation of violence between Hamas forces and Israel, with a high number of civilian casualties, and is deeply concerned.
“We ask the parties involved to act with restraint, not to take measures that complicate the situation and to resume negotiations soon to resolve differences through peaceful means,” the spokesman said, quoted by VNA news agency.
On the latter, Thua Hang noted that these discussions should be conducted on the basis of international law and related United Nations Security Council resolutions to ensure the security and legitimate interests of the civilian population.
Health authorities in the Gaza Strip reported that 313 people died there and more than 1,788 were injured, although the toll is much higher as Israel reported killing more than “400 terrorists,” as it describes the militants.
For its part, the Israeli Ministry of Health reported more than 600 dead and around two thousand wounded; Of these, the army admitted 44 deaths and the police 16.
Yesterday, Hamas fired thousands of rockets into Israeli territory, and then dozens of its militiamen crossed the border and captured numerous cities and towns, including military bases, control of which was regained hours later by the Tel Aviv army.
In response, Israel declared war and ordered a full-scale mobilization of its reserves for an impending offensive against Gaza.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned that this new crisis is a consequence of the 75-year occupation and the criminal and racist practices of the Israeli armed forces, carried out before the silent eyes of the international community.
Earlier, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas said his people had the right to defend themselves against the ongoing crimes of that country’s security forces and settlers.
ode/mpm