Britain’s foreign minister, James Cleverly, condemned attacks on Israel by Palestinian militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
“The United Kingdom categorically condemns Hamas’s atrocities against Israeli civilians.” “The United Kingdom will always support Israel’s right to self-defense,” he posted on social media.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described himself as “shocked” by the attacks.
“Israel has an unalienable right to self-defense.” We’re in communication with Israeli officials, and British citizens in Israel should heed travel warnings,” he continued on X.
The French foreign ministry also condemned “in the strongest possible terms the ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel and its population” after the firing of hundreds of rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip.
France “expresses its full solidarity with Israel and the victims of these attacks. It reaffirms its absolute rejection of terrorism and its commitment to Israel’s security”, the ministry added.
Germany Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also said the Palestinian militant group Hamas “contributes to the intensification of violence”, adding that “violence and rockets aimed at innocent people must stop immediately”.
Israel “has our full solidarity” and “the right, guaranteed by international law, to defend itself against terrorism”, Baerbock said on social media, as the Israeli army began carrying out air strikes on the Gaza Strip.
In response to the Hamas attacks, the Israeli army announced that it had sent “dozens” of fighter jets to strike Hamas targets in Gaza.
Israel imposed a blockade of Gaza in 2007 after Hamas took control and there have been multiple cross-border wars since.
Germany has been rearming since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and recently approved the purchase of the Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel, hailing it as a “historic” agreement and an important contribution by Israel to European security.
