For the first time since the Russian invasion, Israel has directly accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine. At a press conference held alongside the foreign ministers of Greece and Cyprus in Athens, Lapid condemned the Russian forces' work against the background of evidence of a massacre in the town of Bocha. "The pictures and testimonies are horrible"
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said today (Tuesday) that the Russian army has committed war crimes in Ukraine, against the background of evidence of a massacre in the town of Bocha. Lapid made the remarks at a press conference in Athens with the foreign ministers of Greece and Cyprus.
Why is it important
This is a significant exacerbation of Israeli criticism of Russia. This is the first time that Israel has directly accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
What are they saying
"The images and testimonies coming from Ukraine are appalling. The Russian forces have committed war crimes against a defenseless civilian population. I strongly condemn these war crimes," Lapid said.
Lapid added that Russia had invaded without any justification the territory of a smaller and weaker country - Ukraine. He noted that the world is not silent in the face of the Russian invasion but is uniting to help Ukraine.
The foreign minister made the remarks shortly after Prime Minister Bennett first addressed the massacre in Bucha. However Bennett did not directly accuse Russia and did not state that war crimes had been committed.
"We are shocked by the difficult scenes in Bucha. We strongly condemn this. The images are extremely harsh. The suffering of the citizens of Ukraine is enormous and we are doing everything to help," Bennett said.