World reacts to Hamas attack on Israel

Western leaders have unanimously backed Israel after the surprise attack by Hamas — but the reaction was very different elsewhere.

Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel has split world opinion, sparking both condemnation and mass celebrations in the Arab world as well as major western cities.

On Saturday evening, thousands of missiles were launched from Gaza into Israel. At the same time, militants infiltrated southern Israel, killing and abducting citizens and soldiers.

At least 300 people in Israel have been confirmed killed, and more than a thousand injured. Militants have also taken a “significant” number of Israelis hostage.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying that the nation was “at war” and retaliatory strikes on Gaza have killed at least 130 people.

US President Joe Biden addresses the terrorist attacks in Israel. Picture: AFP

Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate is lit up in the blue and white of the flag of Israel. Picture: X

Leaders of Western nations have unanimously backed Israel.

US President Joe Biden said: “The United States unequivocally condemns this appalling assault against Israel by Hamas terrorists from Gaza.

“Israel has a right to defend itself and its people. The United States warns against any other party hostile to Israel seeking advantage in this situation.”

French President Emmanuel Macron similarly condemned the attacks and wrote: “France stands in solidarity with Israel and the Israelis, committed to their security and their right to defend themselves.”

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blasted the “indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks” by Hamas on Israeli cities and civilians.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the attacks “cowardly and depraved”.

“As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel,” he wrote.

The UN’s human rights chief Volker Turk said: “I call for an immediate stop to the violence, and appeal to all sides and key countries in the region to de-escalate to avoid further bloodshed.” He said he was “deeply concerned at reports that Israeli civilians have been taken hostage”.

Acton, half an hour ago.

Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends.

People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing.

Just had a reassuring call with the police, if anyone is scared, please call them. https://t.co/fYjXn4zEDFpic.twitter.com/dQjcAsRyDS

— Rachel Riley MBE 💙 (@RachelRileyRR) October 7, 2023

TV star Rachel Riley posted about people celebrating the bloodshed in London.

A woman passes out sweets to passers by in Damascus on October 7, 2023, to express their solidarity with Palestine. Picture: AFP

Pro-Palestinian regions celebrate

But the reaction in pro-Palestinian regions was starkly different.

The Hamas attack sparked wild celebrations in various nations, including Turkey, Kuwait, Yemen and Iran — as well as much smaller shows of support from some citizens in Canada, England and Germany.

TV presenter and author Rachel Riley posted of her shock at finding people celebrating in west London: “Acton, half an hour ago. Popped into a cafe for some baklava with the kids and our Ukrainian friends,” she posted on X.

“People have been brutally murdered, kidnapped and there are people in London dancing. Just had a reassuring call with the police, if anyone is scared, please call them.”

Rachel Riley said it was a "dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world". Picture: Getty Images

She also described seeing “Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party”.

“Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world,” she added.

A spokesman for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei lauded the attacks, with senior general Yahya Rahim Safavi calling it a “proud operation”.

Footage shared on social media purportedly showed members of Iran’s parliament chanting, “Death to Israel”, “Palestine is victorious” and “Israel will be destroyed”.

People gather in support of the recent attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas at Fatih Mosque in Istanbul. Picture: Burak Kara/Getty Images

Fire and smoke rises above buildings during an Israeli air strike in Gaza City. Picture: AFP

Is this the way to celebrate this shameful act ?
What a shame !

GOD SAVE OUR WORLD 🙏🙏🙏#IStandWithIsrael#Israel#Gaza#Hamas#Palestine#IndiaStandsWithIsrael#HamasTerrorists#IsraelUnderAttack#GazaUnderAttack#Israelpic.twitter.com/sG9RltlS8b

— Abdul (@RolexbhaisirSir) October 8, 2023

BREAKING:

Large crowds gather in central Tehran, Iran, to celebrate the Hamas attack on Israel pic.twitter.com/qAohn3JbGj

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 7, 2023

Saudi Arabia, which had reportedly been close to a deal on normalising relations with Israel, issued a strongly-worded statement on how it had repeatedly warned about the “possible risks of escalation due to the occupation and deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, as well as the systematic provocation against their holy sites.”

Hamas partly justified its attack by referencing a recent Israeli security operation at the al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam.

Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kaka wrote he was “heartbroken by the escalating violence in the Middle East” and called for a two-state solution to the “Palestine question” - a reference to the stalled Israeli–Palestinian peace process.

Footage on social media showed huge crowds celebrating in Tehran with a fireworks display.

Similar scenes took place in Istanbul, Türkiye.

In Yemen, Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa, expressed their support for “the heroic jihadist operation”, Agence France-Presse reports.

In a statement published on the website of the Huthi-controlled SABA news agency, the Iran-aligned militant group said the attack “revealed the weakness, fragility and impotence” of Israel.

It added that the operation was a “battle of dignity, pride, and defence”.