International Reaction to Israeli Measures
A concerted onslaught by several Palestinian militant groups against Israel on October 7, 2023, marked the beginning of a significant escalation of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. While Muslim nations, including the Axis of Resistance, have voiced support for the Palestinians and blamed the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as the primary cause of the escalation of violence, several nations, including many of Israel’s Western allies, including the United States and several European countries, have condemned the Hamas attacks, expressed solidarity for Israel, and stated that Israel has the right to defend itself from armed attacks. Several foreign leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, announced their plans to travel to Israel due to the events.
Many nations demanded de-escalation and a ceasefire. The topic was discussed by Jewish and Islamic organizations, charities, ecumenical Christian organizations, international organizations, and student organizations. By a vote of 121 states to 14 with 44 abstentions, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on October 27, 2023, urging an immediate and permanent humanitarian truce and cessation of hostilities.
As of May 22, 2024, Bahrain, Chad, Chile, Honduras, Jordan, South Africa, and Turkey have recalled their ambassadors from Israel due to Israeli activities during the war, while Belize, Bolivia, and Colombia have broken diplomatic ties with Israel.
INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRISES
African Union: Moussa Faki, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for an early end to hostilities and voiced his “utmost concern” about the situation. He also noted that the “main cause of the permanent Israeli-Palestinian tension” was the rejection of the Palestinian people’s fundamental rights, especially the right to an independent and sovereign State.
The Arab League stated that “Israel’s continued implementation of violent and extremist policies is a time bomb depriving the region of any serious opportunity for stability in the foreseeable future.”
ASEAN: In a statement issued on October 20, the bloc demanded that violence cease immediately and asked all sides to ensure civilian protection and establish a humanitarian corridor. Additionally, it called on the world community to support an effort to bring Israel and Palestine together. The statement reiterated its “support for a negotiated two-state solution” to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
BRICS: The organization condemned attacks on civilians in Israel and Palestine during a virtual summit led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Several leaders referred to the forcible relocation of Palestinians inside or outside of Gaza as “war crimes.”
EU: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that she “unequivocally” denounced “the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel,” referring to it as “terrorism in its most despicable form” and asserting that “Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.” Dimiter Tzantchev, the EU ambassador to Israel, denounced the assault. The European Parliament’s president, Roberta Metsola, led a vigil in the chamber on October 11 to honor the Israeli victims of the attack, which included a minute’s silence and a performance of the Israeli national anthem. Israeli flags were also flown outside the European Commission’s and the European Parliament’s headquarters in Brussels.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi declared on X on October 9 that the European Commission would immediately stop any payments owed to Palestine for developmental aid before the EU council meeting that was called to establish a united EU stance.[394] The resolution that came out of the ministers’ meeting on October 9th called for “the protection of civilians and restraint, the release of hostages, for allowing access to food, water, and medicines to Gaza in line with international humanitarian law,” while also denouncing Hamas’ attacks.
The foreign ministers of several EU members, including Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and others, condemned Varhelyi’s pronouncement, arguing that only individual nations had the authority to make such decisions. Varhelyi’s remark was retracted by the bloc, which stated that it would examine payments to guard against abuse instead. The resolution, which calls for an immediate and prolonged humanitarian truce and halt of hostilities, was voted on by the UN General Assembly with eight votes in favor, four against, and fifteen abstentions. Despite blatant transgressions of international law, Ursula von der Leyen and other European leaders were hesitant to impose penalties on Israel.
The EU Commission and the High Representative noted that “Orders of the International Court of Justice are binding on the Parties and they must comply with them” in a joint communication on January 26, 2024, supporting the court’s ruling on South Africa’s request for the indication of provisional measures regarding the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip South Africa v. Israel.
PUBLIC PARTIES
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Some Bosnian politicians have justified and relativized Hamas’ terrorist crimes, and the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina has denounced Hamas’ attacks on Israel. The Party of Democratic Action urged the UN and other international organizations to assist in resolving the Palestinian issue via discussion and denounced the murders of innocent people.
They also requested an end to the “violence of the Israeli military over the civilians in Gaza, non-selective rocket attacks, the announcement of a ground invasion, and the requests for dislocation of more than a million Palestinians in Gaza”.
Brazil: The Workers’ Party called the Palestinian militants’ attack on civilian areas “unacceptable” and called the Israeli activities in Gaza “genocide.”
New Zealand: David Seymour, the head of ACT New Zealand, and Christopher Luxon, the leader of the New Zealand National Party, denounced Hamas for their attacks on Israeli citizens. Golriz Ghahraman, the foreign affairs spokeswoman for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, denounced the targeting of civilians and called on Israeli forces and Palestinian armed organizations to defend the people.
The Te Pāti Māori Māori Party called for the Israeli Ambassador to be expelled on October 18 if Israel failed to establish a truce or open a humanitarian passage in Gaza.
South Africa: The African National Congress called the most recent Israeli-Gaza confrontation a catastrophic escalation. The “illegal occupation of the Palestinian land, the continued expansion of settlements, the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and the continuing persecution of the Palestinian people” were the main reasons given for the deteriorating situation.
“Hamas’ unprovoked attack” was denounced by the Democratic Alliance, which also called for an “immediate end to violence” and a return to peace talks.
The Economic Freedom Fighters said they backed Hamas and promised to arm the group if they won the general election in 2024. Both the Freedom Front Plus and the Patriotic Alliance declared their support for Israel.
United Kingdom: Due to remarks they made toward Israel, several parliamentary candidates and Members of Parliament, including Kate Osamor, Azhar Ali, Andy McDonald, and Graham Jones, were suspended by the Labour Party under Keir Starmer. According to Jones, British nationals who travel to Israel to serve in the Israel Defense Forces “should be locked up”.
The Holocaust victims had an “international duty” to be remembered, according to Osamor, who also stated that “more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and now Gaza” should take place.
United States: The Green Party called for an immediate ceasefire and condemned attacks on people.
Turkey: The Israeli activities were denounced as “genocide” by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Syria: Israel’s attacks in Gaza were compared to attacks on rebel-held areas in Syria’s Idlib region by the rebel anti-Assad Syrian National Army (SNA), formerly known as the Free Syrian Army (FSA), who voiced solidarity for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
Bangladesh: Pro-Awami League leftist political parties, including the Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Ganatantrik Party, and National Awami Party (Muzaffar), organized protests in solidarity with Palestine. On October 12, leaders of these parties denounced the Foreign Ministry’s original statement as “ambivalent” and “duplicate” during a march held under the aegis of the “Bangladesh Peace Council.” Additionally, they compared the Bangladesh Liberation War to the action of the Al-Aqsa Deluge and referred to it as a “defensive operation.”
At a protest, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the Israeli attack on Gaza and urged the Muslim world to protect the rights and welfare of the Palestinian people. In Dhaka, the party organized a procession in which its officials strongly denounced Israel for cutting off Gaza’s water and electricity supplies.
Politicians, celebrities, and other individuals
Israeli actress Gal Gadot denounced the assault on her homeland. “While I have hopes and dreams for Palestinians, none of them include the harm of a Jewish person,” Gigi Hadid, who is of Palestinian origin, posted on Instagram. The ‘Free Palestine’ movement does not support or benefit from the terrorization of innocent people. A bitter, decades-long cycle of back-and-forth retaliation has been perpetuated by the belief that it does.
American fashion model Bella Hadid, who was born to a Dutch mother and a Palestinian father who had fled Palestine during the 1948 Palestine War, wrote a statement on Instagram lamenting the deaths of Israelis and Palestinians. “Terrorist attacks on any civilians, anywhere” were denounced by her. She also voiced her worries over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Hadid wrote on her Instagram account: “I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number has been leaked, and my family has felt to be in danger.” Israeli musical duo Ness & Stilla’s November 2023 track “Harbu Darbu” demanded Bella Hadid’s murder in addition to Dua Lipa and Mia Khalifa’s.
On Instagram, Justin Bieber posted a message urging people to “pray for Israel” along with pictures of the Israeli military bombing Gaza. In an announcement, Kris Jenner and her daughter Kylie Jenner expressed their support for Israel and expressed sadness over the death and destruction caused by Hamas in Israel. Quentin Tarantino said he was in favor of Israel. He went to an IDF base in southern Israel in mid-October 2023 to “boost the morale” of Israeli soldiers.
Religious institutions
According to the Holy See, criminal culpability for terrorist acts “can never be attributed to an entire nation or people,” and it condemned Hamas’ attacks and demanded an immediate ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages. It stated that it was in favor of a two-state solution with Jerusalem having a unique status. “An immediate cessation of this deadly violence, for Hamas to cease their attacks and ask[ed] both parties for de-escalation of the situation” was the demand made by the World Council of Churches, which represents the majority of religions worldwide.
“Our thoughts and prayers are particularly with the civilians… and especially with all the innocent children, who deserve to get raised in a truly “Promised Land” of peace and prosperity,” said a statement issued by Bartholomew, the Eastern Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
In addition to supporting the preservation of the “Status Quo” about all the Holy Places in the Holy Land, particularly in Jerusalem, the Catholic Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem urged religious leaders and the international community “to make every effort in helping to de-escalate the situation, restore calm, and work to guarantee the fundamental rights of people in the region.” It also emphasized the “urgent need to find a lasting and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in this land.”
Bishop Anthony Poggo, the Anglican Communion’s secretary general, prayed for the safety of civilians and an end to the violence while expressing sympathy for the local population. Additionally, he prayed for the Episcopal Church’s Primate Hosam Naoum in Jerusalem and the Middle East.
Deep historical, political, and social divisions are reflected in the complicated and multidimensional worldwide response to Israel’s actions. While some countries and international organizations strongly support Israel’s right to self-defense, especially in the face of hostile group attacks, others condemn its military responses as excessive and voice concerns about the treatment of Palestinians and human rights abuses.
IN CONCLUSION
The United States and other major international countries have historically supported Israel, albeit the degree of this support can change based on the political situation and the acts taken. As they push for a two-state solution and increased communication, numerous Middle Eastern nations, as well as international civil society organizations and human rights organizations, continue to demand greater responsibility and scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people.
The international reaction is still divided, with alliances and criticisms frequently shaped by historical links, geopolitical interests, and persistent regional instability. A durable solution is still elusive as international diplomacy and peace initiatives struggle to strike a balance between Israel’s security concerns and Palestinian aspirations for justice and self-determination.`
