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JERUSALEM, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Israeli leaders and citizens have expressed their condolences over the killing of at least 50 people in Sunday's mass shooting at an Orlando night club.
"We are all horrified by the horrible massacre in Orlando," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday, at the start of a cabinet meeting, according to a statement from his office.
"I wish to express on behalf of the Israeli government and citizens our condolences to the American people and the families of the victims in such a hard and tragic time," he added.
Netanyahu also said that countries around the world should stand "soldier to soldier" and fight terrorism that "threatens the entire world."
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin wrote to U.S. President Barack Obama late Sunday to express his condolences as well.
"Once again we feel the pain of terrible loss as we see the blood spilled of young and innocent people," Rivlin wrote to Obama, according to a statement from his office. "There is no comfort for those who have had their loved ones torn away from them."
Citizens and municipalities across Israel have also paid tributes to the U.S. people and to the LGBTQ community.
The Tel Aviv Municipality building was lit in the colors of the LGBT flag "in solidarity with Orlando," a week after hosting its annual pride parade in the city's streets.
In Jerusalem, dozens of people gathered on Sunday night to light candles through a vigil in honor of the victims of the Orlando club massacre, the Times of Israel reported. The vigil-goers held signs saying "Love Always Wins."
There have been attacks against the gay community both in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem in the past. In 2009, a gunman killed two people at a gay youth center in Tel Aviv. He managed to flee the scene, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
In Jerusalem, an ultraorthodox Jew stabbed and killed a teen girl and wounded five others during the 2015 Gay Pride parade last August.
