France, Germany and the United Kingdom have warned against escalation and urged a ceasefire in Gaza.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom have called on Iran and its allies to refrain from expected attacks on Israel in retaliation for recent killings of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
The leaders of the three European countries issued a joint statement on Monday calling for “escalation and regional stability” in the Middle East and an urgent ceasefire.
After last month’s assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Fuad Shuqrin, a top commander of the Lebanese group Hezbollah, in Beirut, there is global concern that the war in Gaza could escalate into a full-scale regional conflict.
Analysts told Al Jazeera that the killings, blamed on Israel, could hurt prospects for a ceasefire deal to end the war on Gaza.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that would further escalate regional tensions and jeopardize the ceasefire and the prospect of hostage release,” read a European statement signed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf. Schales and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The three also welcomed the recent push by the US, Qatar and Egypt for a ceasefire agreement to end the 10-month-old war.
Iran and Hezbollah say they are not seeking all-out war, but are ready if it breaks out.
Despite calls for increased restraint, both sides continue to issue threats as Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continues. Meanwhile, low-level fighting continues along the Israel-Lebanon border.
“The fighting must end now and all hostages still held by Hamas must be freed,” the European statement added. “The people of Gaza need urgent and unimpeded distribution and delivery of aid.”
Iran is expected to follow Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s order to “severely punish” Israel for Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran.
Hezbollah has also vowed to retaliate after Israel said it killed Shukr in Beirut.
The Israeli military command is understood to be wary of open conflict as it continues its war in Gaza and its war against Hamas. However, the country’s hard-line political leaders seem keen to keep up the bad rhetoric and push for increased military action.
Hezbollah said two militants were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. The Lebanese group reportedly fired 30 rockets into northern Israel on Monday.
The United States on Sunday ordered a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group to rapidly deploy to the region. It first announced it would deploy additional assets there last week, including an aircraft carrier.
The European report followed a similar message from US President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani when it endorsed a three-phase framework for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and the return of captives. Delivering safe and effective humanitarian aid to their families in Gaza.
At the same time, along with the United States, all three European countries continue to send arms to Israel. However, Britain’s new government is said to have effectively suspended new export licenses due to the review.
