Germany voices support for Israel, warns Iran not to intervene in conflict

BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Thursday called on EU member states to demonstrate solidarity with Israel and warned Iran not to intervene in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“Today it’s about making it clear together (as EU members) that we support Israel in defending its own country against the terrible attacks by Hamas,” Scholz told reporters in Brussels ahead of a summit of EU leaders.

Scholz refrained from joining international calls for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and reaffirmed Germany’s unconditional support for Israel.

He also warned regional actors against taking steps which could trigger a wider conflict in the Middle East.

“Therefore, it should not happen that Hezbollah enters the war in the north with its own activities or that Iran and its proxies try to intervene here,” he said.

The EU leaders are gathering in Brussels for a two-day summit to discuss latest developments in the Middle East and adopt a common position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ahead of the summit, leaders of Spain and Ireland have announced support for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ call for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza following Israeli airstrikes.

Sanchez said “it is urgent and imperative that there be a humanitarian cease-fire so that aid can enter Gaza,” according to Spanish public broadcaster TVE.

Irish Premier Leo Varadkar also called for an end to the fighting to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“My main focus really here is for the European Union as one to agree to call for a humanitarian cease-fire,” he told reporters ahead of the summit.

The conflict escalated dramatically after Hamas’ military wing carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by firing thousands of rockets and sending hundreds of fighters into Israeli towns.

Israel responded by an uninterrupted campaign of air and artillery strikes on the Gaza Strip, and the government announced that it is preparing for a ground offensive to root out Hamas.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel’s massive air bombardment and total blockade of the enclave.