Incursion shocks international observers, particularly among governments of the Middle East

International leaders condemned an unprecedented incursion by Palestinian militants into southern Israel, while governments across the Middle East called for restraint after an attack that shook the Israeli security establishment.

“This attack is having a horrific impact on Israeli civilians,” the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, said in a statement, calling on Israel to avoid civilian casualties in its response.

“Civilians must never be the target of attack,” he said.

Israel responded by attacking the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 198 people dead and almost 2,000 wounded, according to the health ministry.

Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said António Guterres was “deeply concerned for the civilian population and urges maximum restraint”.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
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    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    International leaders condemned an unprecedented incursion by Palestinian militants into southern Israel, while governments across the Middle East called for restraint after an attack that shook the Israeli security establishment.

    Egyptian officials said they were scrambling to contain the crisis diplomatically, including regular consultations with the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Al-Safadi, in an effort to find ways to de-escalate the situation.

    “Egypt called for exercising the utmost restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further risks, warning of serious repercussions as a result of the escalation of violence, which would negatively affect the future of truce efforts,” the foreign ministry said.

    The incursion shocked international observers, particularly among the governments of the Middle East, upending expectations that Israel could continue to push for peace negotiations with former foes across the region despite increasing violence on the ground.

    The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, called for restraint from all parties, a sentiment echoed by Qatar, which has long provided financial support to the besieged Gaza Strip and blamed Israel for the increase in violence.

    The UAE, which signed a deal to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel two years ago, also issued a statement describing “deep concern about the escalation of violence,” and calling for “maximum restraint and an immediate ceasefire to avoid dangerous repercussions”.

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