The World Urges Restraint In The Escalating Israeli-Palestinian Violence

Nine Palestinians were killed in an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp on Thursday.

This was followed by a deadly shooting outside a synagogue in Jerusalem on Friday and a gun attack by a 13-year-old Palestinian boy that left two injured in the city on Saturday.

– United Nations –

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the “terrorist attack” outside the synagogue in Jerusalem, which left seven dead, was “particularly appalling” as it took place at a place of worship on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, his spokesman said.

The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called for an end to the “endless cycle of violence” in the occupied West Bank. It said it was “deeply concerned” by the rise in Palestinian fatalities following one of the deadliest Israeli army attacks in years.

– United States –

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to underline that the synagogue shooting was “an attack on the civilized world,” the White House said in a reading of their phone call.

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel condemned the “absolutely horrific” attack on the synagogue and underlined Washington’s “irresolute” commitment to Israel’s security.

– European Union –

The bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell strongly condemned “acts of insane violence and hatred” after the “appalling terror attack” outside the synagogue.

Commenting on the Jenin raid, he said the EU recognized Israel’s “legitimate security concerns” but stressed that “lethal force should only be used as a last resort when it is strictly unavoidable to protect lives.”

He said Israeli forces had killed 30 Palestinians in the West Bank since the beginning of the year and called on all sides to “reverse this spiral of violence and make meaningful efforts to resume peace negotiations.”

– Egypt –

Egypt – one of the few Arab states with diplomatic ties to Israel – said it strongly condemned the attack on the synagogue and “any attack on civilians”.

The State Department urged Palestinians and Israelis to exercise restraint and to stop provocations and aggression “to avoid spiraling into a spiral of violence.”

– UAE –

The United Arab Emirates, another Arab state that maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, denounced “criminal acts” and all “violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in violation of human values ​​and principles” after the synagogue shooting.

The State Department said it expressed its condolences and sympathy to the Israeli people and the families of the victims over the “heinous crime”.

– Saudi Arabia –

Regional power Saudi Arabia warned of “further dangerous escalation between Palestinians and Israelis”.

– Germany –

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the “terrible” attacks in Jerusalem “deeply shocked” him.

Germany’s foreign ministry condemned Friday’s “horrible” synagogue attack, stressing that “dialogue and cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian authorities are more necessary than ever to eradicate terror.”

– France –

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the “hateful” synagogue attack on Twitter.

“The spiral of violence must be avoided at all costs,” he added, saying his thoughts were with the victims, their relatives and the Israeli people.

– Russia –

Russia’s Foreign Ministry called on all sides to show “maximum restraint” and said it was observing the latest events “with deep concern”.

– Ukraine –

President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country shared Israel’s pain after the Jerusalem attacks and that a Ukrainian woman was one of the victims of the synagogue shooting.

– Oman –

Oman condemned “all forms of violence and terrorism targeting civilians and undermining security and stability,” referring to both Palestinian and Israeli victims.

AFP