Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday condemned last week’s “heinous” ISIS terror attack in Russia.
“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims of the tragic terrorist attack in Moscow. Terrorism, the deliberate targeting of civilians for political or religious ends, is a heinous crime,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“All civilized nations should consistently condemn terrorist acts, regardless of the identity of the perpetrators, whether they are Hamas terrorists murdering Israeli civilians or ISIS terrorists murdering Russian civilians,” he added.
Investigators said the attackers killed at least 139 people at the Crocus City Hall music venue and that at least 182 concertgoers were wounded by gunshots or smoke inhalation.
The premier weighed in four days after the attack amid strained ties due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support for Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre.
Last month, representatives of Palestinian terrorist factions Fatah and Hamas traveled to Moscow for a two-day “national dialogue” under the auspices of the Russian Foreign Ministry on forming a unity government.
In November, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya told a U.N. General Assembly special session on the Israel-Hamas war that the United States and its allies are hypocritical for talking “about Israel’s alleged right for self-defense, which, as an occupying state, it does not have.”
Nevertheless, Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Saturday night condemned the “barbaric” ISIS attack on a concert hall on the outskirts of the Russian capital.
“I spoke with the Russian ambassador to Israel to convey, on behalf of the Israeli people, my condolences to the families of the victims, to the Russian people and its leadership for the terrible loss of life, and wished a speedy recovery to all those injured,” said Herzog.
“I emphasized that terrorism of any kind, especially jihadist terror, indiscriminately targets all peoples, of all beliefs and religions, while sowing fear and destruction. Fighting terrorism is a major international challenge, and the countries of the world must firmly fight it together,” he added.
On Friday night, ISIS terrorists armed with automatic weapons and incendiary explosives entered the hall, with videos posted to social media depicting the men shooting into groups of civilians at close range.
Authorities detained at least 11 suspects; four have been charged in court.
Putin alleged the terrorists had tried to escape to Ukraine, a claim Kyiv vehemently denied and the United States decried as false.