Countries around the world have condemned a wave of Palestinian attacks by land, sea and air that Israel says has claimed
more than 600 lives.
Some countries also called for a de-escalation of the conflict, after Israel launched air strikes and other military operations targeting Gaza that Palestinian authorities say killed more than 370 people, AFP reports. “We are at war,” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, vowing severe retaliation after Hamas’s surprise assault.
Here is a roundup of the reactions:
– United States –
President Joe Biden said US support for Israel was “rock solid and unwavering”.
“The United States stands with Israel,” Biden said in a televised statement at the White House, flanked by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We will not ever fail to have their back.” A White House official said talks with Israel on military aid were “very much under way”.
– Iran –
A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expressed support for the attack, calling it a “proud operation”. “We support this operation,” Yahya Rahim Safavi said, quoted by ISNA news agency. Safavi expressed backing for the Palestinian militants “until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem”.
– Saudi Arabia –
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said: “The Kingdom calls for an immediate halt to the escalation between the two sides, protection of civilians, and self-control”. “The Kingdom is reminded of its repeated warnings of the dangers of an explosive situation as a result of the continued occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights,” it added.
– UN –
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged diplomatic efforts in the Middle East in order to prevent wider conflict, saying Saturday that “only through negotiation leading to a two-state solution can peace be achieved.”
The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk demanded an immediate halt to the violence and urged all sides and key countries in the region to “de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed.” He added he was “deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage”.
– China –
China said it was “deeply concerned” by the weekend’s dramatic escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all sides to show “calm”.
“China is deeply concerned about the current escalation of tension and violence between Palestine and Israel,” Beijing’s foreign ministry said, adding it “calls on all parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, cease fire immediately, protect civilians and prevent further deterioration of the situation”.
– Russia –
Russia’s foreign ministry called for an “immediate ceasefire”. “We call on the Palestinian and Israeli sides to immediately cease fire, renounce violence, show the necessary restraint and — with the help of the international community — establish a negotiation process aimed at establishing a comprehensive, lasting and long-awaited peace,” ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
– Turkey –
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Israel and Palestinians to avoid further escalation.
“We invite all parties to act reasonably and to stay away from impulsive steps that raise tensions,” said Erdogan, who strongly supports the Palestinian cause.
– Japan –
Japan “strongly condemns” the cross-border attacks, foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa said.
Tokyo also criticised the kidnapping of a number of Israelis, including
several civilians, she said in a statement. “Meanwhile, we are seriously concerned about the large number of casualties in the Gaza Strip as a result of attacks by the Israel Defence Forces,” her statement continued. “Japan once again calls on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint to prevent further damage.”
– South Africa –
South Africa’s foreign ministry expressed its “grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.
“The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine,” it added.
– Venezuela –
Venezuela’s government expressed its “deep concern” over the clashes.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, it said the fighting was “the result of the impossibility of the Palestinian people to find in multilateral international legality a space to assert their historic rights”.
– Yemen –
In Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa expressed their support for “the heroic jihadist operation”.
In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack “revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence” of Israel.
