Israeli ambassador Naor Gilon urges Indians to light a ‘Diya of Hope’ for hostages held by Hamas

Amid the ongoing Israel- Hamas conflict, Israeli ambassador to India Naor Gilon has urged Indians to light a “Diya of Hope” for the hostages held by Hamas since October 7.

In a video posted on X, Gilon said that just as Lord Ram's return is celebrated on Diwali by lighting Diyas, a diya (lamp) must be lit in the hope of having our loved ones return. 

“240 of our loved ones have been held hostage by #HamasTerrorists for a month. Every #Diwali, we celebrate Lord Ram's return by lighting Diyas,” said Gilon.

“THIS #Diwali2023 we invite you to light a Diya in the hope of having our loved ones return Tag us and share your photos using the #DiyaOfHope,” he added.

The Israeli envoy has said that if Israel is able to eliminate Hamas terrorists, it will also decrease chances of a ripple effect. 

“If we are able to eliminate Hamas, if we get the time, it will decrease the chances that it will have a ripple effect. You see, we were waiting for weeks and asked civilians to evacuate to the south,” he said.

“But Hamas used civilians as human shields. They hid in the hospital. There is international pressure on them.” 

Underlining the Hamas’s infiltration into the Israel on October 7, Gilon said: “I think that if we are able to, to eliminate Hamas as we hope to do. If we get the time to do it as we hope to do it, it will decrease the chance, significantly that there will be a ripple effect...They went on October 7, penetrated 30 Israeli communities, killed 1400 people abducted 240 people, injured many and we didn't speak about the rockets. They are firing close to 10000 rockets by the way by the way. The hospital short firing of the rocket was not the only one. Their average is 20 per cent.”