France, Germany and Britain have warned of rising tensions and urged a ceasefire in Gaza.
France, Germany and Britain have called on Iran and its allies to refrain from expected attacks on Israel in retaliation for the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
The leaders of the three European countries issued a joint statement on Monday calling for “de-escalation and regional stability” in the Middle East and an urgent ceasefire.
The assassinations last month of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah’s top commander, Fouad Shukr, in Beirut have raised global concerns that the war in Gaza could escalate into an all-out regional conflict.
Analysts told Al Jazeera that the killing, blamed on Israel, could affect prospects for a ceasefire agreement to end the Gaza war.
“We call on Iran and its allies to refrain from attacks that further escalate tensions in the region and jeopardize the opportunity for a ceasefire agreement and the release of the hostages,” said the European Union statement, signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The three also supported the latest effort by the United States, Qatar and Egypt to broker a ceasefire to end the 10-month war.
Iran and Hezbollah say they do not want all-out war, but are prepared if it breaks out.
Despite increasingly urgent calls for restraint, both sides have continued to make threats as Israeli shelling of Gaza continues, while low-level hostilities continue across the Israeli-Lebanese border.
“The fighting must end immediately and all hostages held by Hamas must be released,” the European Union statement added. “The people of Gaza need urgent and unhindered access to and distribution of aid.”
Iran is expected to carry out Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s orders to hold Israel responsible for Haniya’s assassination in Tehran and “severely punish” Israel.
Hezbollah also promised retaliation after Israel announced it had killed Shukr in Beirut.
The Israeli military command is believed to be wary of public conflict as it continues its war in Gaza and against Hamas, but the country’s hardline political leaders are keen to maintain a firm stance and appear to be pushing for increased military action.
Hezbollah said two of its fighters were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday. The Lebanese group reportedly fired 30 rockets into northern Israel on Monday.
The United States also sent a guided missile submarine to the Middle East on Sunday and ordered the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to make a rapid passage to the region amid growing concerns about escalating conflict there. It first announced last week that it was sending additional resources, including an aircraft carrier.
The European statement followed similar messages from U.S. President Joe Biden, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani as they endorsed a three-phase framework calling for Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, the return of those held in Gaza to their families, and the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian aid.
At the same time, three European countries, along with the United States, continue to sell arms to Israel, but the new British government has reportedly effectively halted new export licences as it investigates.
