US, France, Germany, UK and Italy express support for Israel in joint statement
The United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy expressed their support this Monday evening in a joint statement “firm and united” to Israel, condemning ” unequivocal “ Hamas and “appalling acts of terrorism” of it.
The five Western countries will “stay united and coordinated” to ensure that the Jewish State is “able to defend oneself” also for “establish the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East”.
“We clearly state that Hamas’ actions have no justification, no legitimacy and must be universally condemned. Nothing, ever, justifies terrorism”write the American presidents Joe Biden and French Emmanuel Macron, the German chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as the British prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Italian Giorgia Meloni in this text relayed in particular by Emmanuel Macron on X (ex-Twitter).
“Our countries support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against these atrocitiesadd Washington, Paris, Berlin, London and Rome. We all recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians.”.
“But let us make no mistake: Hamas does not represent these aspirations and offers the Palestinian people nothing but more terror and bloodshed. »
“We also call on other extremist groups, or any state that may seek to take advantage of the situation, in particular Iran, not to seek to exploit this situation for other purposes, nor to extend the conflict beyond Gaza »adds the text.
Correction posted at 1:30 a.m. This last sentence citing Iran does not appear in the final communiqué of the five countries. This is the version published on X by Emmanuel Macron who initially mentioned it before the message was deleted on the French president’s account. The final press release, since republished on X by Emmanuel Macronsays: “We emphasize that no other actor hostile to Israel should seek to take advantage of these attacks. »