Three European countries warn against escalation and call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom have called on Iran and its allies to refrain from planned attacks on Israel in retaliation for the recent killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The leaders of the three European states issued a joint statement on Monday calling for “de-escalation and regional stability” in the Middle East and an urgent ceasefire.
Global concern that the war in Gaza could escalate into a full-blown regional conflict has intensified following the killings of two Iran-aligned figures last month.
Despite increasingly urgent calls for restraint, both sides continue to issue threats as Israel continues to bombard Gaza. Meanwhile, low-level hostilities continue on the Israel-Lebanon border.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from carrying out attacks that could further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the opportunity to agree a ceasefire and the release of hostages,” reads the statement, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The trio also backed the latest effort by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker a deal to resolve the 10-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“The fighting must end now and all hostages still held by Hamas must be released,” the statement continued. “The people of Gaza need urgent and unhindered delivery and distribution of aid.”
Iran is expected to carry out an order by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to “harshly punish” Israel, which it blames for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also vowed retaliation after Israel said it killed its top commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Iran and Hezbollah say they are not seeking all-out war, but remain prepared if one breaks out.
Israel's military leadership is also understood to be wary of open conflict as it continues its war in Gaza and fight against Hamas. However, the country's hardline political leaders appear keen to maintain aggressive rhetoric and are pushing for stepped-up military action.
Hezbollah said an Israeli airstrike on Sunday killed two of its fighters. The Lebanese group reportedly fired 30 rockets toward northern Israel on Monday.
On Sunday, the US also ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to sail faster toward the area, amid growing concerns about escalating conflict in the region. Last week it first announced the deployment of additional assets there, including an aircraft carrier.
The European statement followed a similar message from US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani when they backed a three-phase framework to demand Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the return of captives held in Gaza to their families and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian aid.
At the same time, together with the United States, the three European countries continue to send weapons to Israel. However, it has been reported that the new UK government has effectively suspended new export licences while it conducts a review.
