West backs Tel Aviv, Hezbollah says it's a message against normalising ties with Israel

Iran congratulates Palestinians for launching the attack

LONDON/CAIRO (Web Desk) – As Gaza-based Hamas launched a coordinated attack on Israel, the Western nations came out openly in defence of Tel Aviv for its right to “self-defence” while Iran and Hezbollah joined hands to praise Palestinians.

On the other hand, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves against the "terror of settlers and occupation troops", the official news agency WAFA quoted him as saying.

He spoke at an emergency meeting held in Ramallah with a number of top officials from the Palestinian Authority.

At the same time, Egypt warned of "grave consequences" from an escalation in tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, as the foreign ministry called for "exercising maximum restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further danger".

In a similar tone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged both sides to show restraint and refrain from aggressive acts that will exacerbate situation.

But an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei congratulated Palestinian fighters for launching the biggest attack on Israel in years, the semi-official ISNA news site reported.

"We congratulate the Palestinian fighters," it quoted Rahim Safavi as saying. "We will stand by the Palestinian fighters until the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem."

Similarly, Hezbollah, in a statement, said they were closely following the situation in Gaza and in "direct contact with the leadership of the Palestinian resistance". It was "decisive response to Israel's continued occupation and a message to those seeking normalisation with Israel", the Lebanon-based pro-Iran organisation noted.

However, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said they were following developments in the unprecedented situation between Palestinian factions and the occupation forces.

On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron said he strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel.

"I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks which are currently hitting Israel. I express my full solidarity with the victims, and their families and those close to them," Macron stated.

The European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell "unequivocally" condemned Hamas and called for an immediate stop to the violence.

"We unequivocally condemn the attacks by Hamas. This horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing. The EU expresses its solidarity with Israel in these difficult moments," he said.

Similarly, Italy said it backed "Israel's right to defend itself" against the "brutal attack" under way after hundreds of rockets were fired on its territory from Gaza.

The government said it "condemns in the strongest terms the terror and the violence under way against innocent civilians", adding, "We back the right of Israel to defend itself."

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she strongly condemned the terrorist attacks against Israel from Gaza. “Violence and rockets against innocent civilians must stop now. We stand in full solidarity with Israel and its right under international law to defend itself against terror.”

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said his country "unequivocally condemns" the surprise attack and would “always support Israel’s right to defend itself”.

In this connection, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was shocked by the attacks. "We're in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice," Sunak added.

Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said his country was overwhelmed by the indiscriminate violence, as he expressed solidarity with the victims [Israel].

As far as Ukraine is concerned, it’s foreign ministry said, “We express our support for Israel in its right to defend itself and its people.”