European countries criticize renewed Israeli strikes on Hamas in Gaza

European countries criticized Israel’s renewed strikes on Hamas terrorists in Gaza and expressed “great concern” for the resumption of fighting in the coastal enclave. 

The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock argued that “the end of the ceasefire in Gaza due to heavy Israeli attacks is cause for great concern,” revealing that she intended to visit Lebanon on Wednesday. 

“The images of burning tents in refugee camps are shocking. Fleeing children and internally displaced persons must never be used as leverage in negotiations,” Baerbock said in a barely veiled criticism of the Israeli government’s decision to resume military operations against Hamas operatives in Gaza.

She further claimed that “international law includes the principle of proportionality even in self-defense.”

Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry claimed on Tuesday that some 400 people have been killed including women and children. However, there is no independent source that can verify the numbers, and the Hamas authority does not distinguish between armed terrorists and civilians. 

The German foreign minister also argued that the resumed fighting endangered the lives of the remaining Israeli hostages. 

“With the resumption of fighting, the fate of the remaining hostages but also the future of the people in Israel, Gaza and the entire Middle East now again hangs on an extremely thin silk thread,” Baerbock said. 

She concluded by urging “in particular to the USA to use its regional influence … now, because the security of the wider Middle East is affected by this.” However, she did not address the security implications of leaving Hamas intact as a military and political power in Gaza. 

The Israeli government ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to resume military operations against Hamas after the terrorist organization refused to release the remaining Israeli hostages and disarm. 

“Hamas is responsible for this war,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. “It invaded our towns, murdered our people, raped our women and kidnapped our loved ones,” the prime minister reminded the audience.

Furthermore, there are reports that Hamas used the “ceasefire” period to regroup, rearm and plan new terror attacks against Israel. 

The British ambassador to Israel Simon Walters also criticized the renewed Israeli military operations in Gaza. 

“We all want to see Hamas defeated and we are desperate for the hostages to return home,” wrote Walters on 𝕏, “But renewed IDF operations in Gaza will achieve neither of those aims. Instead, there will be more death: of hostages, of Palestinian civilians, of IDF soldiers.”

The British ambassador did not elaborate how Israel can engage in diplomacy with the radical terrorist organization Hamas, which openly calls for Israel's destruction.

The British Foreign Minister David Lammy also criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, claiming that “civilian casualties from Israeli strikes overnight are appalling,” likely referring to Hamas’s unverified and highly disputable casualty numbers. 

“All parties must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end to this conflict. Diplomacy, not more bloodshed, is how we get security for Israelis and Palestinians,” Lammy argued. 

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar that the country’s military operation in Gaza is “unacceptable.”

“Yesterday I also talked to Foreign Minister Sa’ar… what is happening, why are you doing this. And I mean, also conveying the message that this is unacceptable,” Kallas told media representatives, stressing that she was referring to “the loss of civilian lives.”

While European and Middle Eastern nations have criticized Israel for defending itself against Hamas, the United States backed the resumption of Israeli military strikes on Hamas targets. 

“Hamas is delaying the compelling deal in front of us and forcing Palestinians to suffer the consequences,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson said.