Yosrael continued its operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip with dozens of bombings, while the international community awaits your response to the unprecedented attack of Iranwhich stoked fear of a regional escalation.
Iran launched an attack with drones and missiles on Saturday night, in response to a bombing against its consulate in Damascuson April 1, which he attributed to the Hebrew State.
Israel assured that the attack “was thwarted,” but Iran considered “the matter settled,” warning its archenemy against any “reckless behavior” that could trigger a “much stronger” reaction.
On the question of Israeli retaliation, the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu He convened his war cabinet on Monday, after a meeting the day before in which, according to local media, no decision was made.
The head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, stressed that Washington will continue to defend Israel, but that it does not want an escalation with Iran.
“We do not support a retaliatory attack,” British Foreign Minister David Cameron told the BBC on Monday.
And the French president, Emmanuel Macroncalled for a “conflagration” to be avoided, a call shared by much of the international community.
Israel continues its offensive in Gaza
For now, The Israeli army claimed that the Iranian attack of the weekend will not divert him from his goal of eliminating the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, an ally of Iran, in the Gaza Strip.
The war broke out following the Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, when they killed about 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli data.
They also took 250 hostages, of whom 129 remain in Gaza, including 34 who are believed to have died, according to Israeli authorities.
In response, Israel promised to “annihilate” Hamas and launched an offensive that has already left 33,797 dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian territory, governed by the Islamist group.
“Despite Iran's attacks, we have not lost sight – not even for a moment – of our essential mission in Gaza, which is to save our hostages held by Hamas,” said Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari.
Before dawn, dozens of bombings hit the Khan Younis sector in the south of the Strip. Eighteen bodies were recovered from the rubble and taken to a hospital, the Civil Defense reported.
Netanyahu remains determined to launch a ground offensive against Rafaha city in the far south of Gaza identified as the last stronghold of Hamas, despite warnings from the United States and other countries, which fear a bloodbath.
According to the UN, nearly a million and a half Gazans displaced by the war are overcrowded in Rafah, mostly in makeshift camps.
France intercepted Iranian projectiles from Jordan, confirms Macron
France intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel from Jordan early Sunday morning, President Emmanuel Macron confirmed this Monday, promising to “do everything to avoid a conflagration” in Middle East.
“We have an air base in Jordan (…) Jordanian airspace was violated by those shots. We took off our planes and intercepted what we had to intercept,” said the French president in an interview with the BFMTV and RMC channels.
Macron also estimated that by deciding to “hit Israel” for the first time from its territory, Iran has caused “a deep rupture.” “What has been opened is very dangerous in terms of reaction,” he estimated.
“We will do everything to avoid a conflagration,” the French president also promised.
As he explained, this involves “trying to convince Israel that we should not respond with an escalation, but rather isolating Iran and persuading the countries in the region that Iran is a danger, increasing sanctions, increasing pressure on (Iranian) nuclear activities and then find a path to peace in the region.
The United States does not want an “escalation” with Iran but will continue to defend Israel, says Blinken
USA, For its part, it does not want an escalation with Iran but will continue to defend Israel after the unprecedented attack ordered by Tehran, the head of diplomacy declared this Monday. Antony Blinken.
“We are not seeking escalation, but we will continue to support Israel's defense and protect our personnel in the region,” Blinken said at the beginning of a meeting with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Tamim.
Several countries summon Iranian ambassadors
Meanwhile, the Belgian government summoned the country's Iranian ambassador this Monday to protest the attack with missiles and drones on positions in Israel, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The Iranian ambassador, Seyed Mohammad Ali Robatjazi, was summoned to the ministry where he was conveyed “Belgium's strong condemnation of Iran's attack against Israel,” according to a note from the Foreign Ministry.
In its statement, the Belgian ministry added that it “calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint. It is absolutely necessary to avoid a regional escalation.”
France, Germany and the Czech Republic also followed suit.
Sunak to speak with Netanyahu
Finally, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said this Monday that the attack
Iran against Israel last Saturday “has plunged the Middle East into a new crisis” and he announced that he will speak with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to address “how to avoid a new escalation in the region.”
In an appearance before the House of Commons (lower), the Conservative leader condemned the “unprecedented” attack with missiles and drones carried out by Iran against Israel and added that “if it had been successful, the consequences for regional security and the cost for Israeli citizens they would have been catastrophic.
According to the Tory leader, Iran “has shown its true colors” and has shown that it “intends to sow chaos in its backyard” while the United Kingdom's objective is “security and stability.”
WITH AFP AND EFE
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