Western powers urge Mideast de-escalation, support Israel against Iran

US, Britain, France, Germany, and Italy also reiterate support for trilateral call for cease-fire in Gaza

ATHENS:

Five Western powers on Monday called for de-escalation in the Middle East while also voicing support for Israel against possible Iranian retaliation.

In a joint statement, the US, the UK, France, Germany, and Italy “expressed our full support for ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions and reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza.”

It added: “We endorsed the joint call from President Biden, President Sisi of Egypt, and Amir Tamim of Qatar to renew talks later this week with an aim to concluding the deal as soon as possible, and stressed there is no further time to lose.”

Calling on all involved parties to live up to their responsibilities, they highlighted the importance of the need for unconstrained delivery and distribution of aid to Gaza.

“We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iran-backed terrorist groups,” the statement also said.

They urged Iran to stand down its ongoing threats of a military attack against Israel, warning that such an attack would have serious consequences for regional stability.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out last month’s assassination in Tehran of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and vowed retaliation. Tel Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility.

Lebanese Hezbollah is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated senior commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.

Shukr was killed one day before Haniyeh, setting the region on edge for a potentially wider war amid Israel's ongoing assault on the besieged Gaza Strip. Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed during the 10-month-old war.