The United States<\/strong> was among the first nations to recognise the state of Israel in 1948 and is a very close ally. Following Hamas\u2019 attack, US President Joe Biden reiterated American support for Israel in strident terms. \u201cIn this moment, we must be crystal clear: we stand with Israel,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Major European powers have also strongly backed Israel following the trauma of Saturday.<\/p>\n In an unusual move, the leaders of France<\/strong>, Germany<\/strong>, Italy<\/strong> and Britain<\/strong> joined the US in making a joint statement of \u201csteadfast and united support to the state of Israel\u201d which condemned Hamas\u2019 \u201cappalling acts of terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities,\u201d said Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.<\/p>\n Other Western nations, including Australia<\/strong>, Canada<\/strong> and New Zealand<\/strong> have condemned Hamas and made statements of solidarity with Israel.<\/p>\n The European Union<\/strong> released a statement supporting Israel and said it will review the assistance it provides in Palestinian territories, including aid to tens of thousands of refugees.<\/p>\n India,<\/strong> a nation wielding growing influence on the global stage, also offered support for Israel.<\/p>\n Soon after the attack, India\u2019s Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X: \u201cdeeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.\u201d<\/p>\n Modi\u2019s forceful support for Israel surprised some analysts because India had been an active supporter of the Palestinian cause and did not have diplomatic relations with Israel until 1992.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s foreign ministry says 84 countries have released statements of support for Israel since Saturday\u2019s attacks, according to Israeli media reports.<\/p>\n Israel has fought numerous wars with Arab neighbours since it declared statehood in 1948 and does not have formal diplomatic relations with more than two dozen nations, mostly in the Middle East and North Africa.<\/p>\n Rockets have been fired into Israel from neighbouring Lebanon<\/strong> and Syria<\/strong> since Saturday\u2019s attacks. Hezbollah, an armed group operating in southern Lebanon, said it launched artillery attacks \u201cin solidarity\u201d with the Palestinian people. The Israeli military has retaliated.<\/p>\n Iran,<\/strong> which denies Israel\u2019s right to exist, congratulated Hamas following Saturday\u2019s brutal attacks.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really made the Islamic Ummah happy with this innovative and victorious operation,\u201d Iran\u2019s official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted President Ebrahim Raisi as saying. Ummah is an Arabic word meaning the entire Muslim community.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s President Ebrahim Raisi arrives to address the 78th session of the UN General Assembly last month.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AP<\/cite><\/p>\n Iran\u2019s foreign ministry described the Hamas assault as an act of self-defence and called on Muslim countries to support the rights of Palestinians.<\/p>\n Iran is known to provide resources and training to Hamas.<\/p>\n Oil-rich Qatar<\/strong>, which has ties to Hamas and provides significant aid to the Gaza region, said Israel was \u201csolely responsible for the ongoing escalation due to its continuous violations of the rights of the Palestinian people\u201d.<\/p>\n Other nations in the Middle East have opted for a more muted response. Two of Israel\u2019s immediate neighbours, Egypt<\/strong> and Jordan,<\/strong> have urged restraint, with Egypt warning Israel not to take disproportionate action against Palestinians in retaliation to Hamas\u2019 attacks.<\/p>\n The president of Turkey<\/strong>, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, condemned the targeting of unarmed civilians but did not assign sole blame. Turkey has offered to mediate between Israel and Hamas.<\/p>\n Russia,<\/strong> which is aligned with Iran, said it was \u201cextremely concerned\u201d \u2013 but stopped short of condemning Hamas.<\/p>\n China<\/strong> called for the protection of civilians and said the \u201cway out of the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution\u201d and establishing an independent Palestinian state.<\/p>\n \u201cThe international community needs to act with greater urgency, step up input into the Palestine question, facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and find a way to bring about enduring peace,\u201d said a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry.<\/p>\nIsrael\u2019s adversaries<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
Treading a fine line<\/strong><\/h3>\n