News Investigators/ Lithuanian President, Gitanas Nauseda, has criticised Israel over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, saying that starvation cannot be used as a weapon.
Mr Nauseda made the criticism while hosting Israeli President, Isaac Herzog in Vilnius on Monday.
He said at a joint news conference that“the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire. I call on the Israeli Government to take urgent steps to resolve the humanitarian crisis.
“It should be by ensuring adequate delivery and distribution of aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially women and children.
“Starvation cannot be used as a tool of political or military fighting.”
Calling on Israel to respect human rights in Gaza, Nauseda also condemned violence in the West Bank and the illegal expansion of settlements.
He emphasised efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the defence and security industries.
Herzog’s visit to Lithuania came as the international community stepped up criticism of Israel’s campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which triggered humanitarian crisis.
During Herzog’s visit, several protests took place in the Lithuanian capital against Lithuania’s cooperation with Israel.
According to the Israeli president’s office, Lithuania is the first stop of Herzog’s official visit to the Baltic States from Aug. 3 to 6.
To strengthen bilateral relations in areas such as economic, technological, and security cooperation, he would visit Latvia and Estonia as his next stops, accompanied by an Economic delegation.
NAN
