Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis condemned the attacks of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas against Israel. Nauseda assured that Lithuania stood “in full solidarity” with Israel and stressed Israel’s right to defend itself. Landsbergis insisted that the use of violence and terrorism must end, while Simonyte vowed that terror would “never prevail.” Meanwhile, Valdas Benkunskas, mayor of the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, announced that the city’s landmarks were illuminated in colours of white and blue in solidarity with the people of Israel. He noted that Lithuania was “bound by history” with the Jewish nation.
The Lithuanian government’s National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) informed that it was discussing options to repatriate Lithuanian citizens from Israel as soon as possible, LRT reported. Landsbergis urged Lithuanian residents not to travel to Israel, warning that return might be difficult. The Lithuanian Jewish Community (LZB) announced that a return flight from Israel would be organised for Lithuanian residents on 9 October 2023. Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry confirmed media reports that an Israeli-Lithuanian policeman, Martynas Kuzmickas, was killed while defending Israel against the terrorists. He had emigrated to Israel after 1995 to pursue a military career.