The photo shows smoke billowing in the air over the Gaza Strip following Israeli airstrikes on May 9, 2023. (Photo by IRNA)
Gaza City, May 9 (RHC)-- Widespread international condemnations have poured in after the Israeli regime carried out fresh airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 13 Palestinians dead and 20 others wounded.
In a statement on Tuesday, Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the latest Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave, saying such crimes will only strengthen the determination of Palestinian people to continue their struggle against the occupying regime. The ministry also underlined the need to stop these crimes and hold the Israeli authorities accountable, while emphasizing that Damascus will stand by Palestinians.
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry also denounced the Israeli aggression on Gaza in a statement, saying Amman will continue its efforts to immediately stop the violence and restore calm.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry denounced as “unacceptable”the Israeli attacks on Gaza, noting that Ankara expects these tensions to stop before they lead to new conflicts in the region.
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt strongly condemned the latest Israeli strikes on Gaza, saying they are in violation of international law.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also condemned “the barbaric crime” committed by Israel in Gaza, urging the international community to fulfill its duties in supporting the Palestinians and holding the Israeli regime accountable.
Also, the Palestinian Fatah movement denounced the criminal act of the Israeli regime, saying these attacks will strengthen the Palestinians’ determination “to defeat the invaders.” The Palestinian resistance movements of Hamas and Islamic Jihad have also condemned the attacks, vowing to take revenge for the blood of those martyred in Gaza.
Dawood Shahab, an Islamic Jihad official, said that there would be a “unified Palestinian response” to the strikes at a time and place of its choosing.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh also warned that Israel will “pay the price” for the killings. “Assassinating the leaders with a treacherous operation will not bring security to the occupier, but rather more resistance,” Haniyeh, who lives in exile, said in a statement.
Early on Tuesday, Israeli military aircraft launched a series of targeted strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing at least three high-profile commanders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement. At least 13 Palestinians were killed in the strikes and 20 others were wounded, according to Palestinian reports, with a number of sites in Gaza City, Rafah and Khan Yunis targeted, among other locations.
Separately, Tor Wennesland, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East, condemned the Israeli airstrikes which have resulted in the death of Palestinian civilians. "I am deeply alarmed by developments in Gaza after Israel launched a military operation this morning targeting members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement (PIJ),” he said in a statement.
“The Israeli airstrikes inside Gaza resulted in the killing of 13 Palestinians, including three members of PIJ, a doctor, five women and four children, and more than 20 injured. I condemn the deaths of civilians in the Israeli airstrikes. This is unacceptable,” he added.
Wennesland further urged “all concerned to exercise maximum restraint and avoid an escalation.” “I remain fully engaged with all sides in an attempt to avoid a broader conflict with devastating consequences for all," he said.
