The following is a list of reactions to the 2012 Gaza War:
Domestic
IsraelOn the first day of the operation, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said "Today we sent a clear message to Hamas and other terrorist organisations, and if it becomes necessary we are prepared to expand the operation." According to Haaretz, President Shimon Peres updated US President Barack Obama by phone and told him "Israel does not want an escalation but for the last five days we were under nonstop bombardment, mothers and children cannot sleep in peace at night. There is a limit to what Israel can withstand. Ahmed Jabari was behind many terror activities." Interior Minister Eli Yishai said: "The goal of the operation is to send Gaza back to the Middle Ages, only then will Israel be calm for the next 40 years." Ministry of Home Front Defense Avi Dichter said: "We have no other choice; Israel must perform a reformatting of Gaza, and rearrange it, as we did in Judea and Samaria during Operation Defensive Shield."
Most Israeli political leaders, including Tzipi Livni, Shelly Yachimovich, Yuli Edelstein, Israel Katz, Shaul Mofaz, and Naftali Bennett applauded the operation. However, leaders of the left-wing Meretz party voiced opposition on the radio and online. The Israeli Foreign Ministry went into semi-emergency mode, canceling all vacations for its Jerusalem staffers. HamasFawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, called the assassination of Ahmed Jabari an act of war. On 14 November 2012, a statement from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades said "The occupation has opened the gates of hell on itself" and vowed that its militants would "continue the path of resistance". Similarly Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, called the assassination a "declaration of war" pledging a response within hours.Palestinian National AuthorityPalestinian officials have asked the U.N. Security Council to act to halt Israel's military operation in Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas cut short a tour of Europe to return to the West Bank. Mahmoud Abbas instructed the Palestinian Representative to the Arab League to ask for an urgent meeting of the Arab League.
Supranational bodies
United NationsThe United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on the situation during the night of 14–15 November and came to no decision. President Pro Tempore of the Council Hardeep Singh Puri subsequently told reporters: "In short, the message that must resonate from this meeting is 'the violence has to stop'”. On 18 November, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement saying that he was "deeply saddened" by the deaths of civilians and "alarmed by the continuing firing of rockets against Israeli towns."LIVE BLOG: OPERATION PILLAR OF DEFENSE, DAY 6, PART 1, Times of Israel 19 November 2012 On 19 November, Ban Ki-moon visited Cairo to discuss with the Egyptian President the current state of conflict and the efforts made to cease fire. It will be followed by a visit on Tuesday to the Israeli Prime Minister in Jerusalem to stop the operation expansion. Ban will end his Middle East tour by heading to the West Bank, Ramallah to meet the Palestinian president. at Yahoo! News 19 November 2012"UN chief to visit Israel and West Bank as Gaza ceasefire efforts intensify" at The Guardian 19 November 2012Arab LeagueThe Arab League called for the prosecution of "Zionist war criminals," describing their actions as "war crimes" and "crimes against humanity." On 20 November, a selected delegation from the Arab League, led by Nabil Elaraby, will be visiting Gaza in solidarity with the Palestinians and to facilitate the efforts of ceasing fire."Arab League delegation in Gaza for solidarity, ceasefire" at Al-Ahram 20 November 2012"The head of the Arab League and a group of Arab foreign ministers will visit Gaza on Tuesday to show solidarity with Palestinians under Israeli attack, officials said on Sunday." at Reuters 18 November 2012. Stronger actions are yet to be expected by the Palestinian authority from the league such as conducting an urgent summit."Palestinian Authority seeks urgent Arab League summit" at Reuters 18 November 2012European UnionEU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said: "The rocket attacks by Hamas and other factions in Gaza, which began this current crisis are totally unacceptable for any government and must stop. Israel has the right to protect its population from these kind of attacks. I urge Israel to ensure that its response is proportionate."Non-Aligned MovementA statement released by Iran, which holds the rotating presidency of the bloc of mainly Asian, American and African countries, condemned the Israeli air strikes.NATONATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: "Of course Israel has the right to self-defense, and attacks against Israel must end. But the international community would also expect Israel to show restraint."Live Blog: Day 6, Haaretz 19 November 2012
Countries
Afghanistan Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned Israel's airstrikes on Gaza and called for an "immediate stop" to violence against civilians. – Agence France-PresseAlgeriaAlgeria strongly condemned, through Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesman Amar Belani, the "Israeli aggression against Gaza strip" and urged the United Nations Security Council and the international community to assume their responsibilities and "put an end to this dangerous escalation"ArgentinaPresident Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner expressed "solidarity with all victims" and pledged to "work with regional leaders in urging warring parties to cease violence."ArmeniaThe Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandyan, said regarding the war in Gaza: “The use of force and militaristic threats should be stopped. We strongly believe that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict through peace talks,”AustraliaThe Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, stated that "The government condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip and calls on Hamas to cease these immediately. Australia supports Israel's right to defend itself against these indiscriminate attacks. Such attacks on Israel's civilian population are utterly unacceptable."BahrainBahrain reiterated its strong condemnation of the "brutal Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip." The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ghanim bin Fadl Al Buainain urged the international community to step up efforts to halt the "repeated and unjustified Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip." On 20 November a Bahrain lawmaker said he set fire to an Israeli flag during a parliament session in a show of support for the Palestinians in Gaza. Al-Tamimi said he sought to "send a clear message to the international community" about Bahrain's support for the people of Gaza as they face Israeli attacks in retaliation for stepped up rocket strikes by the Palestinian group Hamas."Bahrain lawmaker burns Israeli flag in parliament"BelgiumBelgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders stressed "Israel's legitimate right to defend its population against these attacks" and called for a "measured response".BrazilThe Brazilian government talking on behalf of Mercosur condemned Israel's "disproportionate use of force" on Gaza and called on Israel and Palestinians for an immediate ceasefire. In the statement Mercosur leaders expressed their "strongest condemnation of the violence unleashed between Israel and Palestine" and "deeply regret the loss of lives and expresses its concern with the disproportionate use of force".BulgariaBulgarian Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov defended "the right of Israeli citizens to live peacefully" and condemned the rocket attacks by "Hamas and other militant groups". At the same time he urged Israel to take "strict measures to avoid civilian casualties among the Palestinian population" and expressed condolences to the families of victims among the civilian population on both sides.CanadaCanadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, John Baird, issued a statement stating, "We fundamentally believe that Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens from terrorist threats. Far too often, the Jewish people find themselves on the front lines in the struggle against terrorism, the great struggle of our generation. Just last weekend, more than 100 rockets rained down on civilians in southern Israel from positions in the Gaza Strip. Canada condemns the terrorist group Hamas and stands with Israel as it deals with regional threats to peace and security.”ChileThe President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, stated during a state visit to Turkey that Chile supports "Palestines right to a free, independent and autonomous state" at the same time Chile supported Israels right to "have safety and peace at its frontiers".
On 17 November around 100 persons protested outside the Israeli embassy in Santiago disrupting traffic. The protest had not been authorized and protesters retired when carabineros arrived.Manifestantes protestaron frente a embajada de Israel por ataques en Gaza , La Tercera.ChinaA spokesperson from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China told reporters in a news conference that China expressed "concern" to the clashes and urge all sides, particularly Israel, to display "restraint" and avoid civilian casualties.CubaCuba expressed "strongly condemns" the Israeli operation and called on the international community to stop what he called a "criminal act".Czech RepublicThe Czech Foreign Ministry released a statement saying: "The Czech Republic deeply regrets the loss of civilian lives in Israel and Gaza as well as the current escalation of the situation. The Czech Republic fully recognizes Israel's right to self defense against rocket barrage carried out by the militant organizations in the Gaza Strip while underlining importance of avoiding civilian casualties. The Czech Republic calls on both sides to refrain from all forms of violence and provocative actions and to bring quiet to the civilian population of both sides.Statement of MFA on Israel and the Gaza Strip, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic 15 November 2012EcuadorEcuador condemned the attacks carried out by Israel while criticizing the rocket attacks that Hamas fighters launched into southern Israel.Egypt The Egyptian ambassador was recalled to Cairo and Israel's ambassador received an official protest. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi stated that "The Israelis must realise that this aggression is unacceptable and would only lead to instability in the region". Demanding that the Arab League call an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss "criminal Israeli aggression" on Gaza, and sought an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council.
The Foreign Ministry of Egypt berated the operation and called on Israel to halt its attacks. According to The Guardian, the chairman of the Freedom and Justice party, Saad El-Katatni, said: "The Egyptian people revolted against injustice and will not accept an attack on Gaza. The brutal aggression on Gaza proves that Israel has not yet learned that Egypt has changed".
An Egyptian official reported that Egyptian hospitals are ready to receive wounded Palestinians and that the Rafah Crossing will remain open. Egyptian Prime Minister Hisham Qandil visited Gaza on Friday, 16 November.