Brussels, August 8th, 2022 – Israel´s right to defend itself was once more affirmed by world powers as they issued statements about the recent conflict between Israel and the Iran backed terrorist organization Islamic Jihad over the weekend. In a statement on Monday ECI Founding Director Tomas Sandell noted that “when Israel exercises the right to protect its civilian population from terrorist bombardments it should have the full and unconditional support of the whole international community.”
Israel hit Gaza with air strikes on Friday and Saturday in a pre-emptive operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group as it was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along the Gaza border. IDF later reported that all senior Islamic Jihad officials in Gaza had been eliminated in the air strikes.
In a statement from the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland expressed his concern about the targeted killings of Islamic Jihad terrorist leaders inside Gaza. However, there was no such condemnation when the US administration took out a senior Al-Qaida terrorist leader inside Afghanistan just a few days prior to the conflict in Gaza.
“This type of double talk will have to stop”, Sandell said. “The International community has supported the US in its war against terrorism and has rightfully called out Russia as the aggressor in the war in Ukraine. It now needs to apply the same moral standard also when Israel is attacked by a terrorist group which, similar to its sponsor in Tehran, calls for the Jewish state to be erased from the world map.”
“Instead of simply calling for de-escalation or a political horizon the international community should give its full and unconditional support to the State of Israel and demand that Islamic Jihad stop firing rockets at Israeli civilian targets. The logic behind the current conflict is simple. When the terrorists cease with their hostilities, the military confrontation stops. Only under these conditions can the recent progress in Gaza continue and the prospect for peace be kept alive”, Sandell concluded.
Footnote:
A ceasefire took effect on Sunday evening at 23.30 after Islamic Jihad had fired an approximate total of 1,100 rockets, 200 of which landed within Gaza. Of the 990 rockets that made it into Israel, 380 were intercepted by the Iron Dome at a 95% success rate. The other 610 landed in the sea and open spaces. According to IDF sources Islamic Jihad missiles killed more civilians in Gaza than what IDF airs strikes did.