TIRANA, October 8 – The Ambassador of Albania to Israel, Meri Kumbe, said from the “Ben Gurion” airport on Sunday that they are in contact with Albanians who live and work in Israel to help them leave the country.
In a video published on the social network of the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Hasani, Ambassador Kumbe said that there is maximum attention for Albanian citizens, for the employees and family members of the embassy, as well as for citizens from Kosovo, Montenegro or North Macedonia.
“These are difficult hours for us here in Israel, but on behalf of the Albanian government, I guarantee the Albanian citizens and their families that under the direction of our Foreign Ministry and the Israeli authorities, all procedures are being followed for their safety during their stay and departure to Albania ,” she said.
Earlier, the foreign ministry informed Albanian citizens that despite the extraordinary situation in Israel, the “Ben Gurion” international airport is open.
In the meantime it is reported that Israel declared a “state of war” on Sunday as fierce fighting continued in several areas across southern Israel, a day after Hamas’s surprise attack.
Hezbollah claimed responsibility for mortar strikes from Lebanon into occupied Shebaa Farms; Israel says it has responded with artillery strikes.
The escalation comes as fears of a ground invasion of Gaza are growing after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to turn the besieged Palestinian enclave into a “deserted island”.
The latest death tolls stand at 370 Palestinians, according to health officials, and more than 700 Israelis, according to media reports.
As the fighting continued inside Israel, its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered “an extensive mobilization of reserves” and that they would “return fire of a magnitude that the enemy has not known”. /argumentum.al
