Western leaders hold video conference amid fears Israel-Hamas conflict will engulf Middle East
Leaders of France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Britain and the United States have underscored their support for Israel and its right to defend itself during a video conference, but also urged it to adhere to international humanitarian law and protect civilians.
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In a joint statement issued after a virtual meeting on the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas militant group on Sunday, the leaders welcomed the release of two hostages by Hamas, and called for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
US President Joe Biden convened a meeting of the so-called Quint – the US, France, Britain, Germany and Italy – plus Canada, after speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The calls came amid growing fears that the Israel-Hamas war could mushroom into a wider Middle East conflict as Israel pounded Gaza and clashes on its border with Lebanon intensified.
In the statement, Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to work together closely to support their citizens in the region, and especially those wishing to leave Gaza.
They welcomed the arrival of the first aid convoys in Gaza, and pledged to continue working with regional partners to ensure "sustained and safe access" for the 2.2 million people in Gaza to food, water, medical care and other humanitarian assistance.
They also agreed to continue close diplomatic coordination, including with key partners in the region, to "prevent the conflict from spreading, preserve stability in the Middle East, and work toward a political solution and durable peace."
In joint statement, the world's leaders — Biden, Trudeau, Macron, Scholz, Meloni and Sunak — reiterate their support for Israel while calling for "adherence to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians" https://t.co/b8ATU3sKtX
— Ben Samuels (@Bsamuels0) October 22, 2023
Biden and Netanyahu discussed the arrival of the first aid convoys to Gaza and "affirmed that there will now be continued flow of this critical assistance," the White House said.
The two men also discussed efforts to free more of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas, including some US citizens.
Biden spoke separately with Pope Francis and they discussed the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work toward a durable peace in the Middle East," the White House said.
The Vatican earlier said the call, which lasted about 20 minutes, "focused on conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace."
Meanwhile, fighting has raged unchecked and scores more have been killed in air strikes by Israel in Gaza as the humanitarian situation in the enclave worsens.
Another convoy of 17 aid trucks has arrived in Gaza as the Hamas-run territory faced "catastrophic" shortages.
Israel bombarded Gaza with air strikes early on Monday and its aircraft struck southern Lebanon overnight, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting of his top generals and his war cabinet to assess the escalating conflict.
Pope Francis speaks by phone for around 20 minutes with the President of the United States, Joe Biden.
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 22, 2023
The Pope and the President spoke about "situations of conflict in the world and the need to identify paths to peace."https://t.co/9lb8aG20Uj pic.twitter.com/NiPkDqHnBX
Fears of regional escalation
Fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread into a wider Middle East conflict rose over the weekend with Washington warning of a significant risk to US interests in the region and announcing a new deployment of advanced air defences.
In neighbouring Syria, Israeli missiles hit Damascus and Aleppo international airports early on Sunday, putting both out of service and killing two workers.
Meanwhile, along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Hezbollah has clashed with Israeli forces in support of Hamas in the deadliest escalation of frontier violence since an Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.
Early on Monday, Israeli aircraft struck two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon that were planning to launch anti-tank missiles and rockets toward Israel.
Macron due in Israel
This comes as Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is visiting Israel this Monday, while French President Emmanuel Macron is due to visit Tel Aviv on Tuesday.
His visit comes more than two weeks after Hamas militants stormed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on 7 October and killed at least 1,400 people, mostly civilians who were shot, mutilated or burnt to death on the first day of the raid, according to Israeli officials.
Among them were 30 French citizens.
Seven French citizens are still missing: one of them, a French woman, has been confirmed as among the hostages taken by Hamas.
Macron has said the others are also thought to be hostages, but there has not yet been confirmation.
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