While expressing concern over Israeli’s use of starvation as a weapon in the Gaza Strip, Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda welcomed his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog in Vilnius, calling for more cooperation between their countries.
“In today’s complex geopolitical climate, where security challenges dominate the international agenda, we discussed the need to further strengthen our cooperation in the defence and security industries,” Nausėda said in a statement following the meeting.
He praised Israel as “one of the leading countries globally” in the field, calling its experience invaluable.
“Innovations, particularly in biotechnology and life sciences, can also play an important role in this context,” he added.
The visit by Herzog comes amid growing international criticism of Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has caused a humanitarian crisis.
Throughout the day, several protests were planned in the Lithuanian capital against the country’s cooperation with Israel.
A group of about 15 demonstrators gathered near the Presidential Palace late Monday morning, banging empty pots and chanting slogans such as “Food for Gaza”, “Stop the occupation, stop the genocide”. Protesters displayed signs reading “Don’t shake bloodied hands”, “We don’t want to be accomplices”, and “#RecognizeGenocide”.
“Lithuania is a country that experienced occupation and regained its independence and freedom after the occupation. Therefore, it is shameful that the Lithuanian government is welcoming a war criminal,” Nura Al Mawed, a 25-year-old Palestinian living in Lithuania, told BNS.
Another protester, 29-year-old Ajus Jurgaitis, called Lithuania’s leadership “hypocritical” for failing to apply the same standards to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Israeli’s in the Palestinian territories, “where illegal occupation is being carried out and genocide is being committed”.
“The leaders of such countries should not get royal receptions and hand-shaking, with all the official ceremonies and signing of cooperation agreements,” he said, calling for boycotts and sanctions instead.
A smaller protest was also expected outside the Grand Hotel Vilnius, where a Lithuania-Israel business forum is being held. A larger rally of up to 500 participants is planned for the evening on Kudirkos Square outside the Government building.
Despite the protests, Nausėda described the forum as a “unique opportunity” for business leaders and researchers from both countries to build partnerships that could lead to joint research, technology exchange, innovation, and mutual economic progress.
“I am pleased that the forum will also see the signing of key bilateral agreements that will further solidify our economic and scientific cooperation,” Nausėda said.
However, the Lithuanian president also expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“Starvation cannot be used as a tool of political or military fighting,” he said, calling the situation “dire” and urging Israel to ensure immediate humanitarian aid access.
“The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains dire. I call on the Israeli government to take urgent steps to resolve the humanitarian crisis by ensuring adequate delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially women and children,” Nausėda said at a joint press conference.
He also condemned violence in the West Bank and the illegal expansion of settlements.
According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million Palestinians, has reached “alarming levels” since Israel imposed a full blockade on March 2.
Herzog: Israel invests ‘enormous efforts’ into aid
Responding to Nausėda’s comments on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Herzog insisted Israel is investing “enormous efforts” in humanitarian aid.
“As I have already said, 23,000 tons of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip this week, hundreds of trucks are still waiting to enter, and the United Nations is contributing to this. We also encourage other countries to contribute to humanitarian aid and to join these efforts to ensure the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” the Israeli president told the press conference in Vilnius.
“Hamas’ unfounded and false accusations in this regard, while ignoring their own responsibility for the suffering of Gaza’s residents, undermine the change we are seeking in reality,” he continued.
Herzog showed photos of two hostages, including one with Lithuanian roots, stressing their poor physical condition, emaciation and the resulting danger to their lives.
“We can’t stand aside, we must free all the hostages, and that is the basis for everything. The solution to the crisis in Gaza must be based on this. These are horrific crimes against humanity, and these photos show that the Israelis were not guilty, they are being tortured in those tunnels, and their rights are being violated,” Herzog said.
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