U.S. and EU Rush to Condemn Hamas' Attack on Israel

The United States, the European Union and NATO on Saturday strongly condemned the attack by Hamas' military wing on Israel. The Pentagon has called America's commitment to Israel's right to defend itself "unwavering" and pledged to ensure its key ally has "what it needs for it." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, has described what happened in Israel as "terrorism in its most despicable form." Many heads of state and government of the Twenty-seven have also joined the condemnation. Just one day after the Granada summit ended with division over migration, the more than 2,000 rockets launched from Gaza to southern Israel have united leaders as far apart as Pedro Sánchez, Ursula von der Leyen or Emmanuel Macron with the Hungarian Viktor Orban.

US mediation in the ongoing rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia has made Washington a first-level interlocutor in the crisis, unlike previous escalations in which Washington reacted with some equidistance: today, its support for Israel is resounding and seamless. President Joe Biden has been briefed by "senior national security officials on Hamas' heinous terror attacks in Israel," the White House said in a statement. "The president will continue to receive updates and White House officials remain in close contact with Israeli partners." Although the Biden administration is especially critical of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu for the ongoing judicial reform and the planned expansion of settlements in the West Bank, it has always defended the security of its main ally in the Middle East.

Through a statement issued by its spokeswoman, Adrianne Watson, the National Security Council has condemned more strongly the violent escalation. "The United States unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians. There is never any justification for terrorism. We strongly support the Government and people of Israel and express our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks." The spokeswoman reported that National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has spoken with his Israeli counterpart, Tzachi Hanegbi, and reiterated that Washington remains "in close contact with our Israeli partners." The National Security Council is one of the twenty agencies that ensure the security of the country.

Almost traced in its terms has been the statement of the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin. "Our commitment to Israel's right to defend itself remains unwavering and I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this heinous attack on civilians," Austin said. "In the coming days, the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism."

NATO has also "strongly" condemned Hamas' attack on Israel, in a tweet by its spokesman Dylan Thomas: "We strongly condemn today's terrorist attacks by Hamas against a NATO partner #Israel. Our thoughts are with the victims and all those affected. Terrorism is a fundamental threat to free societies and Israel has the right to defend itself."

We strongly condemn today's terrorist attacks by Hamas against NATO partner #Israel. Our thoughts are with the victims and all those affected. Terrorism is a fundamental threat to free societies, and Israel has the right to defend itself.

— Dylan White (@NATOpress) October 7, 2023

In the European Union, the most active has been the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the EU, Josep Borrell, who has published several messages in X, formerly Twitter. "We unequivocally condemn Hamas' attacks. This horrific violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing," he said in his first post, in which he also expressed solidarity with Israel. He then issued another message echoing reports of Palestinian civilian hostage-taking: "This is against international law. The hostages must be released immediately."

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Afterwards, the Spanish politician reported that he had telephone calls with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And he added the "urgent need for cessation of hostilities, de-escalation, full respect for international law, the release of hostages and negotiations." "The EU strongly condemns all forms of terrorism," he said.

Calls with @MfaEgypt @AymanHSafadi @FaisalbinFarhan @arableague_gs on ongoing attacks by Hamas against Israel.

Urgent need for cessation of hostilities, deescalation, full respect for IHL, liberation of hostages & negotiations. The EU firmly condemns all forms of terrorism.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 7, 2023

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen went even further than condemnation. The German, also in X, has not only pointed out that what happened in Israel "is terrorism in its most despicable form", but has gone a step further by stating that "Israel has the right to defend itself from such atrocious attacks". The government of Benjamin Netanyahu has reacted to the attacks by declaring that the army is in a state of preparation for war and has mobilized thousands of reservists.

I unequivocally condemn the attack carried out by Hamas terrorists against Israel.

It is terrorism in its most despicable form.

Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 7, 2023

Like Von der Leyen and Borrell, the other EU leaders have also reacted by disclosing condemnations. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, has expressed his "solidarity with the victims". For her part, the president of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, has declared herself "horrified by the attacks on Israel".

The high magistracies of the EU have been joined by prime ministers such as the Dutch Mark Rutte or the Hungarian Viktor Orban. Also the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, who has written in X: "We strongly condemn terrorism and demand the immediate cessation of indiscriminate violence against the civilian population." The same has been done by the French president with messages in English and French on his X account.

The UN has joined the international condemnation. The special coordinator of the ailing Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland, has turned to X to express his revulsion. "I strongly condemn the multiple attacks on Israeli towns and cities near #Gaza and the barrage of rockets fired by Hamas militants into central #Israel. These are heinous attacks on civilians that must stop immediately."

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