Region reacts as Hamas attack on Israel spirals
Hamas attack targeting Israel and the retaliation that followed, but others blamed Israel itself and some celebrated the surprise assault.
The early morning Hamas offensive by air, land and sea was met by Israeli air strikes on the blockaded coastal enclave, in the bloodiest escalation since May 2021.
«We are at war,» Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, promising that «the enemy will pay an unprecedented price».
Here is a roundup of reactions from the region:
— Egypt -
The foreign ministry appealed to «both the Palestinian and Israeli sides to exercise the utmost restraint», warning of the «dire danger of ongoing escalation».
Cairo has historically been a key mediator in conflicts between the two sides.
Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made a series of calls to regional and international leaders, including his Jordanian, UAE, Turkish, German and French counterparts, and to European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
A foreign ministry statement said Shoukry sought to rally «international actors» to «intervene immediately».
— Jordan -
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned of the «volatility» of the situation, «particularly in light of what cities and areas of the West Bank are witnessing of Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian people».
The Hamas assault follows months of surging violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with fatalities in the occupied West Bank reaching a scale not seen in years.
Jordan and Egypt were the first two countries in the region to agree peace deals with Israel.
— UAE -
The United Arab Emirates called for «an immediate ceasefire» and «exercising the utmost restraint,» state news agency WAM reported.
«The UAE has expressed its sincere
