Israel’s enemies must not attempt to exploit the war that has erupted in Gaza, the top NATO official warned as world leaders try to curb the risk of a wider war in the Middle East.
“It's also an important message that any nation or organization hostile to Israel should not try to utilize the situation,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels. “And we now see that, for instance, the United States has increased its military presence in the region to also send a clear message of deterrence to prevent the escalation of this conflict.”
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Stoltenberg delivered that message following a day of meetings in Brussels, where NATO defense ministers hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and representatives from other countries that provide weapons to Ukraine. Stoltenberg brushed off misgivings that the conflagration in Israel will diminish the Western capacity to provide aid to Ukraine.
“NATO allies also have the capability to address the situation in the Middle East,” he said. “And as you know, several NATO Allies have provided support, intelligence, all the types of support to Israel.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was also scheduled to brief the assembled defense chiefs by video amid United Nations accusations that Israel is violating international law in its strikes on Gaza and international leaders expressing their fear that the war will expand.
“I appeal to all parties, and those who have an influence over those parties, to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday.
The risk of a multifront conflict with Iran or its proxies, namely Hezbollah in Lebanon, on Israel's northern border, has haunted Israeli and Western officials since the scale of the Hamas terrorist attack became apparent on Saturday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin redirected the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to deploy into the eastern Mediterranean Sea in an apparent effort to help Israeli forces deter Hezbollah or Iranian maneuvers.
“Israel has, I think, a plan right now to enter the Gaza Strip and to completely dismantle Hamas,” Foundation for Defense of Democracies Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer told the Washington Examiner. “The big question really, as Israel prepares to do that, is whether Hezbollah decides to make itself known in the north. ... The tension is very hot. And, of course, Hezbollah’s military capabilities are far greater than anything we've seen out of Hamas. So there is a lot of concern. And, I think the Israelis, from all indications, would like to try to keep the front quiet in the north.”
Israel’s intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip drew sharp criticism from the Arab League, whose civilian chief argued that Israel’s tactics could prompt the expansion of the war.
“There are serious possibilities for the situation to deteriorate and the scope of confrontations to expand, and I hope that they do not materialize because they push the entire region into an unknown situation,” Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, a former Egyptian foreign minister, wrote on social media, per an unofficial translation. “I call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to this dangerous escalation, so that we do not slide into something more dangerous, which exposes the stability of the entire region to a grave threat.”
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Stoltenberg predicted that Israel would “be proportionate” and try to minimize civilian casualties.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, and they have suffered horrendous terrorist attacks over the weekend with many civilians killed. And Israel has the right to defend itself against these types of terrorist attacks,” the NATO chief said. “Then I also expect that of course, when we see Israeli responses, it will be proportionate, and it is important as this conflict continues to do whatever is possible to prevent the loss of innocent civilian lives.”