Many countries are upset about a series of attacks by Palestinians on land, sea, and air. Israel’s army says over 200 people have died.
They said that members of the Palestinian group Hamas attacked homes and killed many innocent people. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared that they are in a war and promised strong actions in response to the unexpected attack. Here is what different countries are saying about it:
United States
President Joe Biden declared that the United States strongly supports Israel and will always be there for them. He said this on TV at the White House, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken by his side. A person from the White House mentioned that discussions with Israel about military assistance are actively happening.
Iran
A top advisor to Iran’s leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, showed approval for the attack, calling it a “source of pride.” Yahya Rahim Safavi, quoted by ISNA news agency, said, “We stand behind this operation.” Safavi also voiced support for the Palestinian fighters until Palestine and Jerusalem are free. In a meeting in the parliament, Iranian lawmakers chanted phrases like “Against Israel,” “Against America,” and “We Welcome Palestine,” as shown in a video from Tasnim news agency.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry stated, “We urge both sides to stop the fighting now, safeguard civilians, and show restraint.”
“The Kingdom has cautioned about the risks of a dangerous situation due to the ongoing occupation and denial of the Palestinian people’s rightful rights,” they added.
UN
The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Turk, said, “I urgently ask for the fighting to end, and I request all parties and important countries in the area to calm down to prevent more violence.”
He expressed worry about news that Israeli civilians might have been captured.
EU
EU leader Ursula von der Leyen strongly criticized the attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel. She called it a vile form of terrorism and stated that Israel has every right to protect itself from such dreadful attacks.
EU foreign policy leader Josep Borrell emphasized the urgent need for the terrible violence to end. He stressed that terrorism and violence don’t bring any solutions. The EU stands with Israel during this tough time.
He also noted that reports of civilians being held as hostages in their homes or taken to Gaza are deeply distressing and against international laws. He insisted that these hostages should be released right away.
Brazil
As the current head of the UN Security Council, Brazil strongly criticized the attacks on Israel. Their foreign ministry released a statement urging all parties to be extremely careful to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Shortly after, Brazil announced they would convene an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the crisis. The Council confirmed that the meeting will take place on Sunday.
Russia
Russia’s foreign ministry has urged for a “quick stop to the fighting.” They’re asking both the Palestinians and Israelis to stop fighting, avoid violence, and demonstrate self-control. They also suggest involving the global community to start talks that aim to create a complete, enduring, and much-awaited peace. This was conveyed by ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country is dealing with a Russian invasion, stated that Israel has an unquestionable right to protect itself.
He mentioned that terrorism is always a crime, not only against one country or particular individuals, but against all of humanity.
Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on both Israel and the Palestinians to prevent things from getting worse.
“We ask everyone to think carefully and avoid hasty actions that heighten tensions,” Erdogan, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, emphasized.
France
France showed strong support for Israel and the victims, firmly denouncing terrorism and affirming its commitment to Israel’s security. President Emmanuel Macron expressed his clear condemnation of the attacks.
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Israel “has our full solidarity” and “the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism”.
Britain
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “shocked” by the attacks.
“Israel has an absolute right to defend itself,” he said.
He went further in a post later on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel,” he wrote.
“This attack by Hamas is cowardly and depraved.”
South Africa
South Africa’s foreign ministry is very worried about the recent serious increase in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
They emphasized that the area urgently requires a trustworthy peace plan. This plan should fulfill the requests from numerous past UN decisions for a two-state solution and a fair, all-encompassing peace between Israel and Palestine.
India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country stood “in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour”.
“Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel,” Modi said.
Yemen
In Yemen, the Huthi rebels, who are in charge of the capital city Sanaa, voiced their backing for what they called a “brave militant operation.”
According to a statement on the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency’s website, the Iran-aligned group said that the attack showed that Israel is weak and powerless.
They also stated that this operation is a fight for honor, self-respect, and protection.
SOURCE:FRANCE24