South Sudan Ambassador to Israel Wol Mayar. (-)

South Sudan’s Ambassador to Israel Wol Mayar has assured the citizens in Tel Aviv of the Embassy’s readiness to respond to their needs amid the ongoing war with Palestinian militants in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Mayar said the embassy is planning to engage with the South Sudanese community in Israel, look into the issues affecting them and provide consular services.

 Ambassador Mayar spoke on Sunday during the last funeral prayers for 54-year-old South Sudanese immigrant Louis Wusong Lako – who had died of natural causes in the Israeli capital Tel Aviv.

“It’s very important for us to stand with you, and also to stand with our people because it’s our responsibility, of course, it’s a time of prayers but we will meet at any time outside on different occasions,” Mayar said.

“We can look at any issues that you have, and we can see what your needs and please although this is a church, you have a right to come to the embassy for counselor service. It’s a work of any embassy for their citizens, and we are ready to receive you and give you any consoler service that you may need.”

There are 22 South Sudanese university students studying under the Israeli government scholarships in Jerusalem and Herzliya.

And about 120 South Sudanese immigrants mainly women and children are reportedly staying in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Bear’r Shava, Afola, Aratt and Eilat.

Israel on Monday continued to pound Gaza with “significant” strikes with soldiers battling Hamas forces in the besieged territory, ignoring ceasefire calls by UN aid agencies who condemned surging civilian deaths in the month-long conflict, AFP reported.

In their October 7 attack, Hamas gunmen intruded in southern Israel and killed more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and took more than 240 others hostage.

The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, says more than 9,770 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Israeli strikes and the intensifying ground campaign since the war began.

Amid global division sparked by the historical conflict, South Sudan government has stayed silent and opted not to condemn either the Hamas attack on Israel or the latter’s deadly reprisal bombing of Gaza.