Since the Israel – Palestine war has started, there was cleft among the world leaders. While some succoured Israel’s “right to defend”, some of them voiced out the cause of Palestinians. As the war has reached its 40th day, here is where some of the most influential leaders stand on Gaza Catastrophe.
Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine was among those who immediately reacted to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. She reacted to the attack on the same day itself. Taking to her X (formerly twitter) account, she wrote that, “Deaths of civilians in Israel and all the horror that the terrorist attacks have caused are unacceptable crimes against humanity”.
Ten days into the war, on October 17th, Ukraine’s First Lady connected with Michal Herzog, First lady and wife of Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, and expressed her “sincere condolences to the First Lady…for the pain of her country”. From there on the Ukrainian First Lady did not commented on the war.
Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, President of Brazil has always “defended” a “viable Palestinian state”. On October 7th, the Brazilian President took to his X platform and denounced the “terrorist attack carried out today against civilians in Israel”. He also added that the solution to the conflict is the “existence of an economically viable Palestinian State, co-existing peacefully with Israel within safe borders for both sides”.
Fiquei chocado com os ataques terroristas realizados hoje contra civis em Israel, que causaram numerosas vítimas. Ao expressar minhas condolências aos familiares das vítimas, reafirmo meu repúdio ao terrorismo em qualquer de suas formas.
O Brasil não poupará esforços para…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) October 7, 2023
In one of his latest posts about the catastrophe in Gaza, Mr. Lula said that he had witnessed many brutality within the 78 years of his life, “but I have never seen such inhumane violence against innocent people” and demanded “humanist behavior from other President, for ceasefire”.
Aos 78 anos, eu já vi muita brutalidade e violência. Mas eu nunca vi uma violência tão desumana contra inocentes. O Hamas cometeu ato de terrorismo mas a resposta de Israel também é letal contra crianças e mulheres inocentes. Destruição de tudo que foi construído com muita luta,…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) November 14, 2023
He also said that, “I do not think Israel’s response to the Hamas terrorist attack is correct. The attack on innocent children and women resembles terrorism…the war needs to end. We want the creation of the Palestinian state. The two-state solution that Brazil has always defended”.
Quanto dinheiro é jogado fora em uma guerra? Quantas vidas? Quanto uma bomba impacta a questão climática? Temos que garantir a paz e acabar com a fome no mundo, isso sim. Não acho correta a resposta de Israel ao ataque terrorista do Hamas. O ataque as crianças e mulheres…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) November 14, 2023
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader has issued a statement on October 7th against the “violent, unprovoked and despicable terrorist attack by Hamas against the State of Israel”. He has been a constant supported of “Israel’s right to defend herself”.
My statement on the violent, unprovoked and despicable terrorist attack by Hamas against the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/vpj3X8EE2y
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) October 7, 2023
On October 9th, he pronounced his “ironclad unbreakable” support for Israel in defeating the “Hamas terrorists and their barbarity”.
The special relationship between the United States and Israel is ironclad and unbreakable.
We will do everything necessary to support Israel’s effort to defeat the Hamas terrorists and their barbarity.
🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸🇮🇱
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) October 9, 2023
Janet Yellen, United States Secretary of the Treasury, is among those who stand for “Israel’s right to defend itself”. She made sure that US Treasury “is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable terrorist attacks against Israel”.
Today, the @USTreasury is taking swift and decisive action to target Hamas financiers and facilitators following its brutal and unconscionable terrorist attacks against Israel. https://t.co/z1n35WC4zA
— Secretary Janet Yellen (@SecYellen) October 18, 2023
Sherry Rehman, Pakistan Senator has been vocal about the brutal genocide in Gaza. She said the “culmination of the settler-colonialist project is leaving a dark open wound on the very fabric of humanity as it makes an awful tearing sound. Red in tooth and claw”. Her social media pages are filled with her concerns and criticism against the world leaders and humanity in whole as the catastrophe in Gaza reaches beyond the realm of imagination.
Over 11,000 Palestinians martyred as Gaza becomes one huge graveyard. Now the West Bank’s children are begging for food and water. This unconscionable genocide has triggered a decisive shift in global public opinion towards the #Palestinian tragedy, but not their leaders. The… pic.twitter.com/ZXMVIrvTyu
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) November 13, 2023
Mitch McConnell, Monitory Leader of US Senate is a strong supporter of Israel as he advocates for the “Israel’s right to defend”. He is strongly against the ceasefire. He said that the “October 7th attack has shattered an existing ceasefire. Calls to return to this arrangement are calls to give amnesty to terrorism”. He also added that those “American politicians who can’t acknowledge it should be ashamed”.
The October 7th attacks shattered an existing ceasefire. Calls to return to this arrangement are calls to give amnesty to terrorists. The distinction between terrorism and self-defense is crystal clear, and American politicians who can’t acknowledge it should be ashamed.
Read my…
— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) November 6, 2023
Antony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, made it clear that while the “Israel does have a right to defend itself”, but the way Israel defend itself “matters” and the loss of life in Gaza and Israel matters. He said that “Hamas has contempt for international law, they are a terrorist organization. But Israel as a democratic nation, has a responsibility to uphold international law and protect innocent lives and to protect civilians including children”.
Every innocent life matters. pic.twitter.com/1GQGBfIj74
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 15, 2023
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria advocates for ceasefire. While talking at a summit with Saudi leader Muhammed Bin Salman and Qatar Emir, Tamim bin Hamad at Riyadh and other leaders from Middle East and Africa, the Nigerian President called for an immediate ceasefire.
Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food programme was concerned about the humanitarian crisis “unfolding in Israel and Palestine and their impact and civilians” and said that World Food Programme “stands ready to support with food & other assistance as needed.
I am heartbroken by the events unfolding in Israel and Palestine and their impact on civilians.
As we face unprecedented humanitarian crises and suffering, more violence is the last thing the world needs. @WFP stands ready to support with food & other assistance as needed.
— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) October 8, 2023
Oleksandra Matviichuk, Human Rights Lawyer, and a Nobel Prize Laurate of 2022, is from Ukraine, she has constantly spoke for the cause of Ukrainians and the call out Russia’s atrocities. About the issue of Gaza, not much of her comments could be traced.
On November 14, she reposted a tweet that call out America President Joe Biden to “show America is great enough to save the lives of these innocent babies. The world is watching”, while sharing a picture of infants taken out of incubators due to lack of fuel at Al Shifa hospital.
Right now 36 tiny babies are in a battle for their lives in al-Shifa hospital in Gaza – their time is running out.@POTUS @JoeBiden: Show America is great enough to save the lives of these innocent babies. The world is watching. #CeasefireNow #LetThemGrowUp pic.twitter.com/oPkYWQXGTj
— Avaaz (@Avaaz) November 14, 2023
(Timeline. chose the top 10 world leaders based on Time 100 most influential people 2023)