445 Hungarian citizens have been rescued from Israel

Hungary continues to condemn the attack on Israel in the strongest possible terms, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office told a press conference on Wednesday.

Hungary’s government recognises Israel’s independence, Gergely Gulyás said.

The international community must do everything possible to avoid escalation and prevent an interstate war, he said.

Europe has a vested interest in the region’s countries preserving their freedom and security, he said. Unless Egypt and other countries are helped, “hundreds of thousands or even millions can make their way to Europe“, Gulyás said.

“We expect and request that everyone take the victims into consideration in this situation,” Gulyás said.

Hungary draws a clear line between exercising the freedom of assembly as enshrined in the constitution, and demonstrations in support of terrorism, he said. Hungary has banned all sympathy protests for terrorism, he said.

Illegal migration is behind the “alarming phenomenon of thousands or tens of thousands hailing terrorists.”, Gulyás said.

Altogether 445 Hungarian citizens have been rescued from Israel and brought home so far, he said.

Everything must be done to free the hostages held in the region, he added.

Hungary has done a lot to evacuate Hungarians who were in danger, he said, noting however that 15 Hungarian citizens, four families with ten children, were still stranded in the Gaza Strip. The youngest among the children is only four months old, he said.

All of the Hungarians are fine, Gulyás said, adding that Hungarian diplomats stayed in constant contact with them.

The government will do everything in its power to bring those families home as soon as possible, Gulyás said.

The conflict in Israel and the situation in the Middle East will be on the agenda of the upcoming EU summit, he said.

Hungary’s government does not support an amendment proposal to the European Union’s budget, and finds it “unacceptable that Brussels is asking for more money”, he said.

The implementation of the “migrant pact” is irreconcilable with Hungary’s interests as well as those of the EU, Gulyás said. “We can’t support wage hikes for Brussels bureaucrats either: these bureaucrats have failed to fulfil their most basic obligations towards Hungary,” he said.

The European Commission is trying to finance rising interest rates from resources it currently does not have, Gulyás added.

Meanwhile, the proposal would ensure support to Ukraine over four years, he said. That proposal is “unacceptable” as it would prolong the war rather than support a ceasefire, he said. “We do not think it is good that support for Ukraine should be integrated into the EU budget,” he said.

The government does not expect a consensus on these matters at an upcoming EU summit, he said.

Source: MTI