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According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the leaders of Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement on the 12th, calling on Iran and its allies not to launch retaliatory attacks against Israel, claiming that this was to avoid further escalation of tensions and endangering the ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The statement also said that the three countries support calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages held by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), and the "unimpeded" provision of humanitarian assistance.

Macron (left), Scholz (center) and Starmer's profile picture from foreign media

According to the Associated Press, according to the joint statement issued by the British government on the 12th, the leaders of the three countries support the efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt to promote an agreement to end the current round of ceasefire between Palestine and Israel. The statement said, "The fighting must end immediately and all hostages still held by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need to receive and distribute aid urgently and without hindrance."

The Associated Press also mentioned that the joint statement was signed by French President Macron, German Chancellor Scholz and British Prime Minister Starmer.

According to previous media reports, Hamas confirmed on July 31 that Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Hamas Political Bureau, was assassinated in Tehran, the capital of Iran, in the early hours of the same day. Hamas said that the assassination was committed by Israel and was a "cowardly act" and that Hamas would retaliate. Israel refused to respond. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei issued a statement saying that Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran and it was Iran's "responsibility" to avenge him, and Iran would impose "severe punishment" on Israel. A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on August 5 that Iran did not want to escalate regional tensions, but believed that Israel must be punished to prevent further instability.

According to media reports, after Iran vowed to retaliate against Israel, the United States, Britain, France and other parties called on relevant parties to exercise restraint and avoid escalation of the situation. Agence France-Presse quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying that the attacks in Iran and Lebanon meant a "dangerous escalation" of the conflict. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on social media that he held talks with Iranian Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and said that any attack by Iran would have "devastating consequences" and that further escalation of the situation in the Middle East was not in anyone's interest.

Source: Global Times/Li Ziyu