The international community has called for restraint following Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which were met with rocket fire from the Islamic Jihad movement. UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland expressed "deep concern," warning that the escalation is "very dangerous." The Arab League condemned "in the strongest terms the fierce Israeli aggression on Gaza," while the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf, condemned the "military aggression by the brutal Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip," emphasizing the "urgent need for the international community to act swiftly" to assist civilians, particularly women and children.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia expressed the kingdom's "condemnation and denunciation of the attack carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip," reaffirming its support for the Palestinian people and calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities in ending the escalation, providing necessary protection for civilians, and making every effort to resolve this prolonged conflict.
Egypt, which has historically mediated between Israel and Palestinian factions in Gaza, is working to put an end to the violence. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi stated that communications are ongoing around the clock with all parties to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
For his part, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby urged both sides to remain calm, but stated that Israel, a U.S. ally, has the right to "defend itself." He added: "We certainly urge all parties to avoid further escalation... We completely support Israel's right to defend itself against groups (terrorists) that are taking the lives of innocent civilians in Israel."
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's spokesperson announced that the bloc is following the violence in Gaza "with great concern" and calls on all parties to exercise "the utmost restraint" to avoid further escalation. Peter Stano stated in a statement that "Israel has the right to protect its civilian population but must do everything possible to prevent the outbreak of a broader conflict that would primarily affect the civilian populations on both sides and lead to new casualties and further suffering."
The spokesperson for the French foreign ministry stated that France "condemns the rocket fire on Israeli territory and reaffirms its unconditional commitment to Israel's security," adding that France calls "on all parties to exercise restraint to avoid any further escalation that would have civilians as its primary victims."
British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced her support for Israel's right to "defend itself." Truss, who is seeking to succeed Boris Johnson as the head of the British government, stated, "We condemn the terrorist groups that shoot at civilians and the violence that has led to casualties on both sides," calling for "a swift end to the violence."
Russia expressed its "deep concern," urging both sides to exercise "the utmost restraint." In a statement, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: "We are closely monitoring the developments that could lead to a resumption of large-scale military confrontation and exacerbate the already deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza." Zakharova urged "all parties involved to show the utmost restraint and prevent the escalation of armed operations and to immediately re-activate a sustainable ceasefire."
The commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Hossein Salami, affirmed that the Palestinians "are not alone" in facing Israel. Salami, whose country supports various Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza against Israel, stated: "Today, all jihadist capabilities opposing the Zionists stand united in the field, working to liberate the Holy Jerusalem and restore the rights of the Palestinian people." Additionally, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi stated that "the crimes committed by the occupying entity in the Gaza Strip last night reveal its aggressive nature."
