KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- International outcry has intensified following Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 404 Palestinians and left hundreds injured, breaking a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Jan 19.
Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported that images emerging from Gaza showed that the majority of the victims were civilians, including women and children, whose homes were bombed during the night.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar strongly condemned Israel’s actions, with the Saudi Foreign Ministry denouncing the attacks as "direct bombardment of areas populated by defenceless civilians, without the slightest regard for international humanitarian law."
Riyadh called for an immediate end to the violence and urged the international community to intervene.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labelled the assault "a blatant challenge to international will supporting peace," warning that Israel’s continued escalation could ignite further regional instability.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry urged immediate international intervention to prevent further escalation and called on all parties to allow mediators to work toward a permanent ceasefire.
“(The assault) constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and represents a dangerous escalation that threatens to have severe consequences for the stability of the region," its foreign ministry said in a statement.
Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan described the airstrikes as “an assault on humanity itself” and called on the international community to act.
His foreign ministry warned of the risk of escalating regional tensions and urged Israel to adhere to the ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States (US).
It also called for restoring electricity to Gaza and reopening crossings for humanitarian aid.
Meanwhile, Iran strongly condemned the renewed attacks and held the US responsible for Israel’s actions.
Its foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqae accused Israel of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing, urging the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take serious measures against Tel Aviv.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the attacks “unacceptable” in a phone call with his Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb.
Erdogan urged the international community to take a stand against what he described as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “genocide policy” and emphasised the need to restore the ceasefire immediately.
In Europe, Spain has also condemned the strikes, with Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares describing the situation in Gaza as indescribable.
“I can’t find the words to describe the situation in Gaza. We must mourn and reject this new wave of violence and these new bombings, which indiscriminately hit the civilian population,” he told Spanish broadcaster Onda Cero.
He criticised Israel for cutting off humanitarian aid and electricity to the enclave, stating that such actions violate international law.
Spain’s Podemos party leader, Ione Belarra, called for a formal arms embargo on Israel, arguing that the attacks constituted genocide.
Furthermore, both China and Russia have called for restraint, warning of the dire consequences of continued hostilities.
China expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, with foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning urging all parties to prevent a larger humanitarian disaster and ensure the ceasefire agreement is upheld.
Russia raised concerns over the deteriorating situation, warning of a “spiral of escalation” in Gaza.
“The latest aggravation of the situation, the return to a spiral of escalating tensions, this is what worries us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
He also said that Moscow was closely monitoring the conflict and hoped for a return to a peaceful resolution.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 48,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 112,000 others.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on the enclave.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
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