Supporters of Israel took to the streets in Seoul on Tuesday, urging Hamas militants to stop their killing of civilians, as war continues to escalate between the two sides.

The Solidarity with Israel rally, hosted by the Korea-Israel Friendship Association and the Israel Forum civic groups, took place near the Gwanghwamun Station, in central Seoul, following two pro-Palestinian rallies last week.

The rally was attended by Israeli Ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor, Korea-Israel Friendship Association Chairman Hwang Woo-yeo, President of the Israel Forum Kim Jin-seop, and Joy M. Sakurai, the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Seoul, as well as some 500 Koreans and Israelis living in Korea.

Calling Hamas a terror group, not a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, Hwang, a former politician and education minister, urged the militant group to stop killing people.

"Blinded and obsessed by anger, Hamas is committing a massacre and we must stop this atrocity," he said.

Ambassador Tor condemned the war but said that the enemy of Israel is Hamas, not the Palestinian people and the people of Gaza.

Sakurai, who attended the rally on behalf of US Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg, also said the US stands with Israel. “There is no justification for terrorism, there is no excuse. Israel has the right and duty to defend itself against the brutal attack of Hamas and to make sure this never happens again,” she said.

“We would also like to applaud the Korean government for supporting Israel and standing against the unjustified atrocity committed (against) civilians by Hamas,” she added.

At the end of the rally, the participants chanted the slogan “Return the hostages, surrender immediately, we support peace in Israel.”

• ·S. Korea set to open largest
• ·Truck crash leaves 2 dead, 2 injured
• ·TvN’s ‘Unexpected Business’ to return with season 3
• ·Netflix to release ‘Daily Dose of Sunshine’ in November
• ·Over 1,300 rescue workers still traumatized by Itaewon Halloween tragedy
• ·First lady meets haenyeo, expresses respect, gratitude
• ·홍익표, 체포안 가결파 징계에 “총선 승리 도움 기준으로 판단”
• ·Voter interest reaches all
• ·이준석, 눈물의 회견…尹대통령 향해 "與 묵언 수행 저주 풀라"
• ·Performing Arts Market to link local artists to world
• ·[Hello Hangeul] Korean language instructors' working conditions remain subpar
• ·Questions remain after passage of anonymous birth bill
• ·탄약 찾는 러…국방부 "北컨테이너 적재량, 포탄 수십만발 분량"
• ·Foreigners ditch sluggish Korean stocks
• ·Korean telecom regulator considers W68b in fines on Google, Apple for violating in
• ·Chief justice nominee Lee Gyun