global condemnation of Hamas attacks on Israel

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday, killing more than 100 people and wounding hundreds in a surprise assault that combined gunmen crossing into the territory of the Jewish state with a barrage of rockets fired from Gaza.

Below are the reactions worldwide:

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY SPOKESMAN

The United States "unequivocally condemns" the Hamas attacks and stands in solidarity with the government and people of Israel, CNN reported Saturday, citing a spokesman's statement.

LLOYD AUSTIN, US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

"In the coming days, the Department of Defense will work to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism," Austin said in a statement.

Last minute. Dozens of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel

TOR WENNESLAND, UN ENvoy FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

"This is a dangerous precipice, and I call on everyone to step back from the edge."

GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZ

"Frightening news reaches us today from #Israel. We are deeply shocked by the rocket fire from Gaza and the escalation of violence. Germany condemns these attacks by Hamas and stands with Israel," Scholz said on social media.

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON

He strongly condemned the attacks. "I express all my solidarity with the victims, as well as with their families and loved ones," she wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

At least 198 dead in Gaza due to war, according to Hamas Health Ministry

PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS

The Palestinian people have the right to defend themselves from "terror of settlers and occupation troops," the official WAFA news agency quoted Abbas as saying.

SAUDI ARABIA

The Foreign Ministry called for an "immediate cessation of violence," the state news agency reported.

"We are following the unprecedented developments between various Palestinian factions and the Israeli occupation forces, which have caused a high level of violence on several fronts."

EGYPTIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Egypt warned of the "serious consequences" of the escalation, in a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported by the state news agency. He called for "exercising maximum restraint and avoiding exposing civilians to further danger."

BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER JAMES CLEVERLY

"The UK unequivocally condemns Hamas' horrific attacks on Israeli civilians. The UK will always support Israel's right to defend itself," Cleverly said in a social media message.

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

"I unequivocally condemn the attack perpetrated by Hamas terrorists against Israel. It is terrorism in its most despicable form. Israel has the right to defend itself against such heinous attacks," he posted on X.

JOSEP BORRELL, HEAD OF FOREIGN POLICY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

"We follow with anguish the news coming from #Israel. We unequivocally condemn the Hamas attacks. This horrible violence must stop immediately. Terrorism and violence solve nothing," Borrell published in X.

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

"This attack is having a horrific impact on Israeli civilians," Volker Tuerk said in a statement. "Civilians should never be the target of an attack."

He called on Israel to avoid civilian casualties in its response.

TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN

"We ask for restraint from all parties," Erdogan said at a congress of his ruling AK party in Ankara.

QATAR

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Israel is solely responsible for the current escalation of violence with the Palestinian people. He called on both sides to act with utmost restraint.

RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS MIKHAIL BOGDANOV

Russia is in contact with Israel, the Palestinians and Arab countries regarding the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov.

"Needless to say, we always call for moderation," he declared.

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODIMIR ZELENSKI

He condemned what he called a "terrorist attack" against Israel. Speaking via the Telegram messaging app, he stated that Israel's right to defend itself "cannot be questioned."

HEZBOLLAH

The Lebanese group Hezbollah, supported by Iran and a staunch enemy of Israel, claimed to be in "direct contact with the leaders of the Palestinian resistance."

He described the developments as a "decisive response to the continued Israeli occupation and a message to those seeking normalization with Israel."

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

"The UAE calls for maximum containment and an immediate ceasefire to avoid serious repercussions," the official news agency quoted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying.