The European Union expressed its concern regarding the "serious escalation of violence in Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Lebanon."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the rise in violence between Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday and called on all parties to exercise restraint and calm during the ongoing holiday period.
Borrell stated in a statement, "Israel has the right to defend itself. At the same time, any response should be proportional," adding, "The European Union calls for an immediate halt to the ongoing violence, and everything must be done to prevent the conflict from widening."
Tensions escalated between Israel and the Palestinians after an Italian tourist was killed and five others injured in a car-ramming incident in Tel Aviv on Friday, following the murder of two Israeli sisters in a shooting in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military targeted sites in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip late Thursday into Friday, while Palestinian factions retaliated with rockets into southern Israel.
