Deadly Israeli strikes on Gaza drew condemnation from Arab nations and the international community, who urged Israel to halt hostilities and salvage a ceasefire deal.
Israeli air strikes pounded Gaza, killing at least 326 people, Palestinian health authorities said on Tuesday. The developments threaten the complete collapse of a two-month ceasefire as it vowed to use force to free its remaining hostages in the strip.
Egypt condemns resumption of strikes
The Egyptian foreign ministry condemned Israel’s deadly overnight air strikes on the Gaza Strip, calling them a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire that took effect on January 19.
The strikes constitute a “dangerous escalation which threatens to have bring serious consequences for the stability of the region,” said the statement from Egypt, which brokered the Gaza ceasefire alongside Qatar and the United States.
Turkey
Turkey said that Israel’s attacks on Gaza amounted to a “new phase in its policy of genocide” against Palestinians and urged the international community to take a determined stance to ensure a ceasefire is upheld and humanitarian aid is delivered.
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry added it was unacceptable for Israel to cause a “new cycle of violence” in the region, adding the Israeli government’s “hostile approach” threatened the future of the Middle East.
UN chief ‘shocked’ by Israeli strikes on Gaza
UN chief Antonio Guterres is “shocked” by Israel’s renewed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, a United Nations spokesman said Tuesday.
“The secretary-general is shocked by the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza... he strongly appeals for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be re-established, and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally,” UN spokesman Rolando Gomez told a media briefing.
Iran’s foreign ministry
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the United States had direct responsibility for “the continuation of genocide in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The Kremlin warns of escalation
The Kremlin warned Tuesday about a “spiral of escalation” in Gaza after Israel launched its deadliest strikes on the territory since a January ceasefire.
“The aggravation of the situation, another spiral of escalation, this is creating concern for us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Prevent a ‘humanitarian disaster’
China called for steps to prevent a “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza.
“China is highly concerned about the current situation between Israel and Palestine,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, calling for the parties to “avoid any actions that could lead to an escalation of the situation, and prevent a larger-scale humanitarian disaster.”
Agencies
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