Ahmad Abdel-Ahman
October 13, 2023

Strong Arab reactions continue to the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation against Israel

Arab reactions to the "Al Aqsa Flood" came in statements issued by the ministries of Foreign Affairs in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, the Sultanate of Oman, Iraq and Syria, as well as the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

In Cairo, Egypt warned in a Foreign Ministry statement of the repercussions of the "escalation" and urged restraint, calling on the international community to "urge Israel to stop attacks against the Palestinian people". The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced in a second statement that its Minister, Sameh Shoukry, had made "contacts with international officials to stop the escalation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides".

In Jordan, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed in a statement "the necessity of stopping the dangerous escalation in Gaza and its surroundings," warning of "the dangerous repercussions of this escalation, which threatens to further escalate the situation." The Ministry warned of "the consequences of this escalation on all efforts to achieve comprehensive calm, and stressed the need for restraint, protection of civilians, and respect for international humanitarian law."

In Lebanon, there was no official reaction, but the Lebanese Hezbollah congratulated Hamas on the "large-scale heroic operation." Hezbollah said in a statement that it "congratulates the resisting Palestinian people and the mujahedeen of the heroic Palestinian factions, especially the dear brothers in the Al-Qassam Brigades and the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, with the heroic, large-scale operation."

In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: "The Kingdom is closely following developments in the unprecedented situation between a number of Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation forces, which has resulted in a high level of violence taking place on a number of fronts there." Saudi Arabia called for "an immediate cessation of escalation between the two sides, the protection of civilians and restraint," renewing its "call on the international community to activate a credible peace process that leads to a two-state solution."

In Doha, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "deep concern about the developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip," calling on "all parties to stop the escalation, calm down, and exercise the utmost restraint." The Foreign Ministry held "Israel alone responsible for the current escalation; Because of its continuous violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which is the repeated raids on Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police."

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE expressed, in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its country's "deep concern about the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians". It also noted that, as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, there is the need to immediately reactivate the international Quartet to revive Arab-Israeli peace talks.

In Rabat, the Kingdom of Morocco expressed its "deep concern over the deteriorating situation and the outbreak of military actions in the Gaza Strip, and condemns the targeting of civilians by any party". The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Kingdom of Morocco "has long warned of the repercussions of the political impasse on peace in the region, and of the dangers of increasing tension as a result".

In Baghdad, a statement carried by the media office of the Iraqi Prime Minister said: "The operations carried out by the Palestinian people today are a natural result of the systematic oppression they have been subjected to since ancient times at the hands of the Zionist occupation authority, which has never adhered to international and UN resolutions." The statement added: "This is why we call on the international community to take action to put an end to the serious violations and restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, who are still suffering from occupation, policies of racial discrimination and siege, transgression of sacred things, and violation of humanitarian values and principles."

Kuwait expressed its "deep concern," noting in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the escalation "came as a result of the continued violations and blatant attacks committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against the brotherly Palestinian people". The Ministry called on the international community to "assume its responsibilities, stop the violence, provide protection for the brotherly Palestinian people, and end the provocative practices of the occupation authorities."

In Damascus, Syria declared "its support for the Palestinian people and their fighting forces against Zionist terrorism". It also stated that "this ..proves that the only way to achieve the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people is resistance in all its forms".

In Muscat, the Sultanate of Oman said, in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that it is "following with interest and concern the ongoing escalation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides". The Ministry explained that this escalation "is a result of the continued illegal Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the ongoing Israeli attacks, and portends serious repercussions".

The Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, also called for "an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza," recalling that "Israel's continued implementation of violent and extremist policies is a time bomb that deprives the region of any serious opportunities for stability in the foreseeable future," according to what was stated in the statement. A statement issued by his spokesman. The spokesman added: "The Secretary-General is fully convinced of the international community's responsibility for the current situation, in the absence of any real reaction to the Israeli right's provocative policies against Islamic sanctities, (sic)  and against the two-state solution."

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, also called for an immediate halt to the escalation, to protect innocent civilians. Al-Budaiwi held the occupation forces responsible for these conditions, which resulted from "the continuation of the blatant and ongoing Israeli attacks against the Palestinian people and holy places." Al-Budaiwi said that the ongoing Israeli attacks represent a flagrant violation of international conventions and laws.

A building is on fire in the Israeli-Hamas war (Photo by Adobe)