Global leaders condemn Hamas attack on Israel; Iran, Syria, Iraq support offensive

TEL AVIV — World leaders have condemned Palestinian militant group Hamas unprecedented attack on Israel while a few nations supported the offensive citing “oppression” by the Jewish country.

Terming the attack “appalling” and “unconscionable”, US President Joe Biden said “there is never any justification for terrorism.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel,” adding that the country’s “thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japan counterpart Fumio Kishida condemned the Hamas attack and assured unequivocal support to Israel.

French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged “maximum restraint” as Israeli Defense Forces conducted a counteroffensive and called for “the immediate release of all abducted persons.”

However, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arab “backed” the Hamas attacks on Israel.

In support of the Hamas, Iraq’s PMO posted on X, “Iraq affirms its firm position, as a people and a government, towards the Palestinian issue, and that it stands by the Palestinian people in achieving their aspirations and obtaining their full legitimate rights, and that injustice and the usurpation of these rights cannot produce sustainable peace.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Nasser Kanaani “congratulated” the Palestinian people, saying, “Today’s operation has opened a new chapter in the resistance and armed action against the occupiers in the occupied territories”, CBS news reported.

“We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem,” state-affiliated Iranian Students’ News Agency said.

Over 600 people have been killed in fighting between the Israeli military and Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli death toll passes 500; another 2,048 injured

The death toll from the massive assault launched by Hamas on Israeli communities near Gaza and thousands of rockets fired into Israel is over 500, the media reported on Sunday citing estimates provided by officials.

Among the dead are over 12 soldiers and police who were killed battling the terrorists, the Times of Israel reported.

The Health Ministry also confirms that the number of wounded in hospitals has reached 2,048, including 20 in critical condition and 330 seriously wounded.

The military continues to battle gunmen in border communities more than 30 hours after the assault.

The military continues to battle gunmen in border communities more than 30 hours after the assault, Times of Israel reported.

Two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian national have been shot dead in the Egypt’s Alexandria city by a police officer, according to the news website Cairo24, The Guardian reported.

The attack reportedly took place at the Serapeum of Alexandria, an ancient Roman monument in the centre of the coastal city.

Cairo24, a news website with links to the Egyptian intelligence services, said a police officer working with the security service in the area fired random shots “from his personal weapon” at an Israeli tour group that was visiting the shrine, The Guardian reported.

“The police officer was immediately arrested and legal proceedings will be taken against him,” they said.

One injured person was shifted to hospital for treatment.

The attack marks a further escalation in connection with events in Gaza, including a rare incursion by Palestinian militants into Israeli territories bordering the Gaza Strip and an ongoing exchange of fire between Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Israel’s northern border.

Also read: Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza Strip stuns Israel and leaves dozens dead in fighting, retaliation