The EU called on both Israel and Iran to refrain from further attacks on each other. All parties are urged to exercise extreme restraint and not to take any action that could increase tensions in the region.
Israel's war cabinet wants to discuss today a response to the Iranian attack, the stalled negotiations over a hostage deal in the Gaza war, and the intensified conflict with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon. The Iranian attack on Israel on Sunday night with hundreds of drones and missiles was triggered by a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus. The foreign ministers of the group of seven economically strong democracies are now discussing further sanctions against Iran in view of the threat of a conflagration. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi renewed his warning against a counterattack. If Israel were to carry out even the smallest of attacks on Iran, he said, the world would be in for a long and bloody wait. Israel will make its own decisions and "do everything necessary to defend itself," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after meetings with Britain and Germany. Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, meanwhile, called on the EU to "change course" in its policy towards Iran. After months of blocking a major US aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, a vote in the US House of Representatives is likely imminent. Around 26 billion dollars (24 billion euros) are earmarked for Israel. This includes four billion dollars to increase the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile defense systems. If approved, it would be the Senate's turn. It is likely that the Democratic-led chamber will support the plan. Qatar wants to rethink its role as a mediator in the war between Israel and Hamas. Qatar's role had to some extent been abused for political purposes, said Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the capital, Doha. He did not elaborate on who and what he meant specifically. "This has caused Qatar to completely reassess its role, and we are currently in this phase," he said.