Joint Statement: Western leaders Unite in Support of Israel

Leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy on Tuesday issued a joint statement reiterating their “steadfast and united support for the State of Israel” as the Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate with over 1600 people from Palestine and Israeli sides killed so far.

The leaders — including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — also expressed their “unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its reprehensible acts of terrorism” in the statement.

“Today, we — President Macron of France, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Sunak of the United Kingdom, and President Biden of the United States — express our steadfast and united support to the State of Israel, and our unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism,” the joint statement read.

The leaders asserted in the statement that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned. “There is never any justification for terrorism,” the statement, shared by US President Joe Biden on social media platform X, stated.

 

The United States, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom will remain united and coordinated – together as allies and as common friends to Israel – to ensure Israel can defend itself. pic.twitter.com/aVbfSi4LJy

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 10, 2023

“In recent days, the world has watched in horror as Hamas terrorists massacred families in their homes, slaughtered over 200 young people enjoying a music festival, and kidnapped elderly women, children, and entire families, who are now being held as hostages,” it read.

“Our countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage,” the leaders said in the joint statement.

“All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed,” the statement further read.

“Over the coming days, we will remain united and coordinated, together as allies, and as common friends of Israel, to ensure Israel is able to defend itself, and to ultimately set the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region,” the leaders asserted in the statement.

“We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,” they added.

Israel witnessed a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, in its southern parts on Saturday morning. After more than 50 hours of firefight, the Israeli army claimed that it has regained control of all Gaza border towns. Israel has imposed various levels of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007.