Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended his condolences over a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida that left 50 people dead and more than 50 others injured on Sunday. The Islamic State has since claimed responsibility for the massacre, which is being investigated as an act of terror by the FBI.
“On behalf of the people and government of Israel, I extend our deepest condolences to the American people following last night’s horrific attack on the LGBT community in Orlando,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “Israel stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States at this moment of tragic loss. We send our heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims and wish a full and speedy recovery to the wounded.”
Orlando is thousands of miles from Israel, but the tragedy there has deeply saddened me. We Israelis feel your pain as if it were our own.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) June 12, 2016
Leader of the Israeli opposition Isaac Herzog also expressed his sympathies to U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, in the wake of the massacre. “The Zionist Union, and myself, send heartfelt condolences to the American people,” the Labor Party chief said in a statement. “The forces of hatred, violence and murder, as manifested in this heinous terror attack, must be fought against with all our might. Our two nations will continue to do so in close cooperation, based on our deep friendship.”
In an expression of solidarity, Tel Aviv’s city hall lit up with the colors of the American flag and that of the LGBTQ community following the massacre.
In solidarity with #Orlando #TelAviv City Hall is lit up with the #USA flag and the flag of the #LGBTQ community pic.twitter.com/ULKR0BeR7N
— Mayor of Tel Aviv (@MayorOfTelAviv) June 12, 2016
The massacre in Orlando comes just days after two Palestinian gunmen stormed a popular cafe in Tel Aviv, killing four and wounding 16 others. That attack was praised by the Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas.
[Photo: Tel Aviv / Twitter]