Back home from a visit to Israel on Monday, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel told a news briefing here that "two individuals of Bulgarian descent are being held hostage". Gabriel was part of a delegation led by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov.
"This is what we can share. In coordination with the State of Israel and the parties involved in the negotiations, we are continuing to do whatever is necessary to bring about the release of the hostages," Gabriel said.
She added that during the visit they held meetings with relatives of hostages, who told them about the two hostages of Bulgarian descent.
"Solidarity, gratitude and coordination: these are the three key messages that Prime Minister Denkov and I conveyed to the state and the people of Israel today," Gabriel said.
"We must continue our coordinated efforts to avoid a regional escalation. The international community must continue to seek a solution, including to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," she noted.
The Deputy PM recalled that Bulgaria was among the first countries to evacuate its nationals that were short-term residents in the region.
During Monday's visit, Denkov and Gabriel conferred with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen.
"One of the main objectives was to express our full support for the State of Israel, because it has every right to protect its citizens from terrorist and rocket attacks," Denkov said at the news briefing. "Hamas terrorists should not be mixed up with the Palestinian population in which civilians also have their rights," he added.
"Thirty days ago, Israel was attacked in an extremely brutal way. The atrocities that were committed are unspeakable. We were reminded of some of them today. Israel has every right to defend its citizens," Denkov said. He pointed out that Bulgaria will help by whatever it can, adding that one of the topics discussed in Israel was the possibility for injured children and their families to visit this country for a certain period.
The Prime Minister was adamant that no more information would be provided about the two hostages of Bulgarian descent, as this could put their lives and health at risk.
"We will not discuss this topic any more until we have permission from the Israeli state," he added.
Commenting on the news about the two hostages, Vice President Iliana Iotova said: "If they are of Bulgarian descent and do not hold Bulgarian identity documents yet, I believe our top priority should be to grant them Bulgarian citizenship, especially since, judging by experience, those who hold dual nationality are let to go more easily."
Specifying that she had not heard Gabriel's statement, Iotova explained that the first thing that should be done is to clarify the hostages’ status regarding Bulgarian citizenship and to provide them with Bulgarian documents as quickly as possible, supposing they can be contacted and they wish to get such documents.
"This is the least we, as institutions, can do very fast, covering the whole procedure," she added. Iotova also said that Bulgaria participates in various international institutions, forums, etc., and should use all these formats to lobby for the release of its citizens if they already hold Bulgarian documents.
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