International reactions to the 2006 Qana airstrike, which saw the greatest loss of civilian life in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, twenty eight deaths with thirteen missing, largely involved the condemnation of Israel by many countries around the globe, bringing about a supposed 48 hours cessation of air operations by the Israeli Air Force. Bombings resumed only a few hours after the start of the cessation of air operations.
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Unless otherwise stated, all quotes are from "International responses", News Limited, July 30, 2006.
Israel - Israeli UN Ambassador Dan Gillerman said
that it was a "horrible, tragic incident." Gillerman said the dead
were "victims of Hezbollah," which he said was using civilian
buildings as cover to launch rockets into Israel.[1] Israeli
Government spokeswoman Miri Eisen said that Israel is "deeply
sorry" for what had happened, and claimed that there would be an
investigation in Israel to find out how the airstrike could have
happened.[2]
Algeria - The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs issued a statement where it condemned "this
criminal act that nothing could justify", and asked for an
immediate and unconditional cease-fire. [3]
Egypt - President of
Egypt Hosni
Mubarak stated that "The Arab Republic of Egypt expresses its
profound alarm and its condemnation of the irresponsible Israeli
bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana, which resulted in innocent
casualties, mostly women and children."[4]
Iraq - Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's top Shia cleric, stated, "Islamic nations will not
forgive the entities that hinder a cease-fire." He added, "It is
not possible to stand helpless in front of this Israeli aggression
on Lebanon. If an immediate cease-fire in this Israeli aggression
is not imposed, dire consequences will befall the region." [5]
Jordan - Jordanian King Abdullah II condemned
"the ugly crime perpetrated by Israeli forces in Qana that is a
gross violation of all international statutes."[6]
Kuwait - Jassem AlKharafi, the
parliament speaker of Kuwait, condemned the attacks and quoted that
"the Israel 'savage and barbaric' aggression on Lebanon surpassed
all moral and humanitarian limits and formed a disregard of
international law and human rights and the world community" [7]. Kuwait
Prime Minister Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah also
condemned the attacks.[8]
Lebanon - The Lebanese
government has asked Condoleezza Rice to cancel a visit to
Lebanon insisting that they will only negotiate an immediate,
unconditional cease-fire. Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr disputed
allegations that Hezbollah was firing missiles from Qana and said
"What do you expect Israel to say? Will it say that it killed 40
children and women?" [9]
Palestinian Authority -
Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas stated that "what happened
in Qana is an ugly massacre. It is a new Israeli crime that it be
immediately stopped for the protection of civilian life." [10]
Syria - Syrian U.N. Ambassador
Bashar Jaafari stated that "These bombs ... are American bombs.
They call them laser-guided bombs but actually they are
hatred-guided bombs, and unfortunately these bombs are made in the
U.S.A."[11]
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad also said:"The massacre
committed by Israel in Qana this morning shows the barbarity of
this aggressive entity. It constitutes state terrorism committed in
front of the eyes and ears of the world." [10]
United
Arab Emirates - called the event an "ugly massacre." [13]
France - French
President Jacques Chirac said that "France
condemns this unjustifiable action, which shows more than ever the
need to move toward an immediate cease-fire."
United Kingdom -
British Foreign
Secretary Margaret Beckett stated: "It's
absolutely dreadful, it's quite appalling. We have repeatedly urged
Israel to act proportionately."
Germany - Foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated
that "the highest priority must now be a cease-fire as quickly as
possible," and expressed "horror" of the deaths. [14]
Greece - Foreign Ministry
spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos stated: "We are filled with
repugnance and deep sadness. ... Now the need for an immediate
cease-fire is more pressing than ever." [14]
Ireland
- The Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
condemned the attack saying he was shocked and appalled at the
heavy loss of life and that an immediate ceasefire is urgently
needed. He called the attack "despicable".[15] [16]
Italy - Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said: "I
truly hope that a road to peace is found again." [14]
Norway - The Norwegian Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre said "Norway condemns
such actions against civilians and calls for an immediate
ceasefire" and described the attack as "a clear-cut violation of
international law". [17]
Spain - The Spanish government's
expressed "profound consternation and condemns the Israeli
bombardment." [13]
Sweden - The Swedish Prime Minister, Göran Persson
said he reacted with "dismay and wrath". He commented that "even
Israel must stand up for international rights, and use
proportionate countermeasures in their situation." [18]
Turkey - Ankara stated: "We are
filled with deep sadness because of the death of innocent people."
Foreign Ministry called Israel for an immediate cease-fire.
Vatican City - Pope Benedict
XVI said that "In the name of God, I call on all those
responsible for this spiral of violence so that weapons are
immediately laid down on all sides."[19]
Bangladesh - The foreign
minister of Bangladesh called the attacks State Terrorism.[20]
Iran - The Iranian Foreign Ministry
stated that "The Qana bombing is the outcome of Rice's trip to the
region. Some American officials should be put on trial for the
crimes in Lebanon."[4].
India - The country's External
Affairs Ministry issued the following statement: "India strongly
condemns the continued irresponsible and indiscriminate bombing of
Lebanon by the Israeli military, ignoring calls for restraint."
[21]
Japan - The government of Japan
issued the following statement: "The Government of Japan strongly
deplores the incident on July 30 in which many Lebanese civilians
including children were killed by an Israel Air Force strike
despite the repeated calls for Israel's self-restraint by the
international society." It also called for an immediate
cease-fire.[22]
Pakistan - Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said
"the Pakistani government and people strongly condemn this sad
incident, which is clearly unwarranted aggression, and calls for an
immediate ceasefire."
China - Foreign Ministry
spokesman Liu Jianchao said that the PRC "strongly condemns [the
air strike]," adding that "the Lebanese-Israeli conflict has
already created a serious humanitarian disaster in Lebanon" and
that "China strongly calls for an immediate and unconditional
ceasefire in order to prevent the creation of an even greater
disaster." [23]
Singapore - Singaporean
officials have condemned the attacks, calling for the UN to swiftly
get a ceasefire ready.[24]
South Korea - The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade released a statement
expressing regret at the loss of life by the Israeli airstrikes. It
also called on the government of Lebanon to make efforts to return
kidnapped Israeli soldiers.[25]
Brazil - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he rejected
"the acts of indiscriminate violence and the use of military force
against civilian targets by all parties" in the conflict.
Canada - Foreign Affairs Minister
Peter MacKay said,
"These are very tragic circumstances. The people of Lebanon and
Israel have been profoundly affected by the bombing... The tragedy
is really for civilians. The infrastructure has been devastated in
parts of Lebanon, particularly the south." Prime Minister Stephen Harper
made it clear Canada supported Israel's military campaign against
Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. [1] Michael
Ignatieff, then the leading candidate for the leadership
of the Liberal Party of Canada, caused
controversy by saying that while the deaths were tragic, he "wasn't
losing sleep" over them [2]; he later
caused additional controversy by referring to the airstrike as a
"war crime" [3].
Chile Foreign Minister Alejandro
Foxley released a statement saying "We desire an immediate
cease fire and withdrawal of invading forces from Lebanon."[26]
Mexico's Foreign Ministry
"condemned the tactics used by Hezbollah such as launching rockets
at civilians in Israel, as much as those by Israel against Lebanon
described as a disproportionate use of force."[27]
United States - United States Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice announced that she
postponed her visit to Beirut,
adding that:"We [the United States Government] want a ceasefire as
soon as possible, I would have wanted a ceasefire yesterday if
possible, but the parties have to agree to a ceasefire and there
have to be certain conditions in place... Any ceasefire has to have
circumstances that are going to be acceptable to the parties."[28]President
George W. Bush
said the United States "mourns the loss of innocent life" and that
all parties with a stake in the Mideast conflict "must work
together to achieve a sustainable peace." The Bush administration
has refused to call for an immediate cease-fire, with officials
saying they want a "sustainable" end to hostilities -- one that
includes efforts to prevent future Hezbollah attacks against
Israel.[29]
Venezuela Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said, "This murder of
dozens of women and children has no justification whatsoever." The
UN and other powerful nations shared blame for the attack because
they had responded to Israel's military campaign in Palestine and
Lebanon with "silence and omissions.""The devastating attack on Qana makes clear that an immediate and full ceasefire is urgently needed. Measures taken by Israel to temporarily suspend airstrikes over southern Lebanon are insufficient. Both sides to this conflict have shown a blatant disregard for the laws of war and civilians on both sides are paying the price as war crimes abound..."[30]
Arab League - League's
Secretary-General said that "The attacks that Israeli forces are
launching targeting civilians and the Lebanese infrastructure are
another confirmation of Israeli aggressive intentions."
European Union -
EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy, Javier Solana, said that he has "talked
to the Prime Minister of Lebanon ... I have expressed to him my
profound dismay and deep sorrow at the attack and the death of
innocent civilians in Qana. Nothing can justify that."
Hezbollah - Stated that
"this horrific massacre will not go without a response."
United Nations -
United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called an emergency Security
Council meeting Sunday at the request of Lebanese Prime Minister
Fuad Saniora where a French draft resolution, including an
immediate cease-fire, was discussed. In the meeting, Annan said:
"we must condemn this action in the strongest possible terms ... I
am deeply dismayed that my earlier calls for immediate cessation of
hostilities were not heeded, with the result that innocent life
continues to be taken and innocent civilians continue to suffer."
[33]|
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