At Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visit a soldier wounded by an explosion on the Israel-Syria border in March, 2014. Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accompanied dozens of foreign ambassadors on a tour to meet wounded civilians and Israel Defense Forces soldiers at Barzilai Medical Center,  in Ashkelon, near Israel’s border with Gaza.

Netanyahu told the ambassadors: “I expect not only your support but your moral stand against a terrorist organization that is attacking us. Any democracy would do what Israel is doing in order to defend itself.”

“I ask you… not to sanctify the idea that these brutal terrorists can attack a beleaguered democracy, can rocket our cities, can target millions of our people, can hide among their civilians and get away with it. Because if they can, you’re next,” he said. “What message does it sent to Al-Qaeda, to Boko Haram, to Hezbollah, to ISIS? … what kind of moral message does it send? When Israel is being condemned for doing what any democracy would legitimately do to defend itself .”

“I ask you to stand with Israel because it is right. Because it  is our right to defend ourselves and it is our right to exercise that right,” he said.

He also addressed the wounded, telling them that “All of Israel embraces you and wishes you a quick recovery. You were wounded on the most important mission of all – defending our home.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu met local and regional leaders at Ashkelon City Hall, where he said, “You are all leaders at the front. You are doing exceptional work. This is a very important part of the campaign. I would like to express my support for you and all Israelis.”

Ashkelon Mayor Itamar Shimoni told Netanyahu: “I would like to say on behalf of all of us that our national resilience is tremendous. As a leader, you have gone step-by-step, sagaciously. The people of Israel have the right leader at the right time.”

On Tuesday, Netanyahu also spoke by phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and told them that the international community must act to demilitarize Gaza, according to the Government Press Office.

Watch a video of Netanyahu’s remarks at Barzilai Medical Center below: