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Germany, the US, Britain, France and Italy issued a joint statement on Monday assuring their solidarity with Israel, following terrorist attacks by the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas.
Together, they expressed ‘steadfast and united support’ for Israel ‘and unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and its appalling acts of terrorism.’
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the five countries will ‘ensure that Israel can defend itself and its citizens against the heinous attacks,’ he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the phone with US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and reiterated their support for Israel.
A two-day Franco-German cabinet meeting with Scholz and Macron kicked off in Hamburg on Monday.
The joint statement of the five countries said: ‘All of us recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But make no mistake: Hamas does not represent those aspirations, and it offers nothing for the Palestinian people other than more terror and bloodshed.’
The five would ‘support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities. We further emphasize that this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage.’
In the days ahead they would act in a united and coordinated manner to ensure that Israel was able to defend itself and ultimately to create the conditions for a peaceful and integrated Middle East region, they pledged.
‘We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,’ the statement said.
source: dpa
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