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Albania: Chief rabbi seen leading Israeli army prayers in Gaza faces calls for removal

video depicting Albania's chief rabbi, Yoel Kaplan, celebrating the destruction in Gaza and leading Israeli troops in prayer has prompted an angry backlash in the country.

Kaplan, who is also an Israeli officer, returned to Israel after 7 October following the Hamas assault on the south, which resulted in nearly 1,200 Israeli nationals and foreigners being killed and 251 people being captured and taken back to Gaza.

Since then, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel and over 94,000 wounded.

The video featuring Kaplan in Gaza was posted by a Jewish community website on Monday, but it is not exactly clear when it was taken. 

READ MORE: Chief rabbi seen leading Israeli army prayers in Gaza faces calls for removal

Albania's chief rabbi, Yoel Kaplan, with Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Tirana, Albania's capital, in May 2023 (Social media)
Albania's chief rabbi, Yoel Kaplan, with Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Tirana, Albania's capital, in May 2023 (Social media)