Israel offers humanitarian aid to Syrians
FM says Israel willing to aid Syrians fleeing violence; 'The Jewish people can’t sit back while innocent people are killed'
Foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel is willing to offer humanitarian aid to Syrians fleeing their war-torn country to northern Lebanon. The official offer which was made to the International Committee of the Red Cross is currently awaiting confirmation.
In regards to the humanitarian aid, Lieberman said: "It is impossible for the Jewish people not to act while innocent people are being killed on a daily basis in a neighboring country."
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"Even though we don’t have diplomatic ties with Syria, it is our moral duty to offer humanitarian aid and urge the world to act quickly in order to stop the killing," he said.
Up to 2,000 refugees fleeing the violence in Syria crossed the border into northern Lebanon on Sunday, said a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency.
A Reuters witness on the Lebanese border heard heavy shelling coming from the nearby Syrian town of Qusair earlier on Sunday and saw mainly women and children fleeing towards Lebanon on foot.
"The people said they were at home when suddenly the shelling started and they fled. They said it was tank shelling and gunfire," said Reuters reporter Afif Diab.
Opposition activists reported Sunday that the Syrian army has been shelling rebel outposts in the city of Rastan – located some 20 kilometers from Homs – since the morning hours.
Reuters contributed to the report
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