The EU reaffirmed its support for Israel, the Czech Republic and Austria raised the Israeli flag

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This is another demonstration of Zeman’s support for Israel during the current outbreak of violence. The Czech president has already expressed such support in a letter to his Israeli counterpart, Reuven Rivlin.

The Czech Republic is one of Israel’s closest allies among the countries of the European Union, the AP notes.

Austria also hoisted the Israeli flag over government buildings today, also in solidarity with Israel over attacks on it from the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other terrorist groups, AFP reported.

“I strongly condemn the attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip,” said Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. “Israel has the right to defend itself against these attacks. To demonstrate our full solidarity … we raised the Israeli flag” on the buildings of the Chancellery and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “said the head of the Austrian government.

“Nothing justifies the launch of more than a thousand missiles from the Gaza Strip against Israel by Hamas and other terrorist groups so far, and we strongly support Israel’s security,” said Foreign Minister Alexander Schalenberg.

Turkey, which has been actively defending the Palestinian cause and has strained relations with Austria for several years, has sharply criticized Austria’s gesture of support for Israel, AFP reported.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “very concerned” about the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, the DPA reported.

“I condemn Hamas’ indiscriminate attacks on Israel,” Von der Leyen wrote on Twitter, adding: “Civilians on both sides must be protected. The violence must stop immediately.”

Last night, European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell called for calming tensions, saying he had “reaffirmed the EU’s support for Israel’s security”.

Borrell condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Hamas. “It is important that any response avoids civilian casualties,” Borel said in a telephone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

Other EU leaders, including Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, have also expressed concern over the tense situation in the Middle East.

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed condolences to the families of victims of the Hamas attacks and “other terrorist groups,” the Elysee Palace said.

In a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron strongly condemned the attacks. The French president reaffirmed “his unwavering support for Israel’s security.”

Israeli operation against Palestinian groups in Gaza Strip continues, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced today, quoted by AFP.

The agency notes that this happened against the background of the intensification of Israeli strikes in the coastal enclave, which have already killed more than 100 people in a few days. The rocket fire from Palestinian territory against Israel claimed eight lives. This is the most serious escalation of violence between the Jewish state and Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip in seven years.

“I said we would do serious damage to Hamas and other terrorist groups. They are paying and will continue to pay dearly. This is not over yet,” the Israeli prime minister said after a meeting at the defense ministry.

Israel will strike the Hamas tunnel system below the Gaza Strip “very hard,” Netanyahu was quoted as saying by the DPA amid ongoing Israeli strikes in the enclave.

Ten Palestinians were killed and about 150 were injured in clashes with the Israeli army in the West Bank today, AFP reported, citing the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

There have been protests in a number of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and protesters have clashed with the Israeli military. Several Palestinians were shot dead in various incidents.

About 475,000 Jewish settlers live among more than 2.8 million Palestinians in the West Bank. This territory, occupied by Israel since 1967, has no land connection with the Gaza Strip, notes AFP.

Two protesters were injured in Lebanon during a protest on the border with Israel against Israeli strikes in the Palestinian enclave. One of them later died.

Lebanese youths tried to enter an Israeli border village and Israeli tanks fired warning shots to stop them, the Israeli army said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on Israel and Palestinian groups to end the violence, TASS reported.

The UN Security Council will discuss the escalation of the conflict in open session on Sunday, after the United States objected to holding a meeting today, diplomats were quoted as saying by Reuters.

Demonstrations in support of the Palestinians took place in a number of places today, from Bangladesh through Jordan to Germany. About 200 people gathered in the German capital, DPA reported.

At least 122 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since Monday, including 31 children and 20 women. 900 people were injured, Palestinian medics were quoted as saying by Reuters.

The eight killed in Israel were a soldier, six civilians, including two children and an elderly woman, as well as an Indian worker.

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