Israel-Hamas conflict: Which country is on which side of the divide?

Thousands of Palestinians have begun to flee the Gaza Strip amid heavy airstrikes even as Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) prepared for a ground assault to avenge the Hamas attack last Saturday (October 7).

The ongoing conflict has divided countries in two blocs, with Western countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, France, Norway, and Austria, voicing their unflinching support to Israel. The countries in the Middle East have, on the other hand, sided with Palestinians, with Iran threatening that “opening other fronts is a real possibility”, while India, Russia, and China have adopted a nuanced approach to the conflict.

In a curious development, South African countries, where the Zionist state has earned admiration and friends for its investments in agriculture and technology, are wary of the conflict as they have traditionally supported the Palestinian cause.

Here is a brief account of the stand all these countries on both ends of the spectrum have adopted.

Countries supporting Israel

A day after Hamas launched a multi-pronged assault – through land, air and sea – and hit Israel hard with 5000 missile rockets targeting the country as far as Tel Aviv and killing hundreds of its citizens in an early morning raid on a Jewish holiday, western nations not only condemned the attack but also extended support to Israel

United States: Though President Joe Biden called on both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas advising them not to escalate and widen the conflict, the White House took the lead in announcing its “unwavering” support by extending military aid to Israel.

The US ordered its strike fleet, including the Ford carrier and ships supporting it, close to Israel and also said it would send more fighter jets to the region. “I have directed the movement of the USS Gerald R Ford Carrier Strike Group to the Eastern Mediterranean,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was quoted as saying in media reports.

The US provides US$3 billion worth of military aid to Israel every year.

Britain: Calling on Netanyahu, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed solidarity with Israel and said he would work to rally support around the world for the country, according to media reports. The British Prime Minister “reaffirmed that the UK will stand with Israel unequivocally against these acts of terror. Sunak offered Prime Minister Netanyahu any support Israel needs,” a statement from his Downing Street office said.

France: French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke to Netanyahu and Israel President Herzog to condemn the Hamas attack and express solidarity with Israel.

The French President issued a joint statement on behalf of France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and the United States on X. “We make clear that the terrorist actions of Hamas have no justification, no legitimacy, and must be universally condemned,” Macron said in the statement. Affirming that these “countries will support Israel in its efforts to defend itself and its people against such atrocities”, Macron further said, “All of us recognise the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, and support equal measures of justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

Australia: In a TV programme, Australian Anthony Albanese called the Hamas attack “abhorring” and defended Israel’s right to defend itself. “This is an abhorrent attack on Israel. This is indiscriminate. Civilians being targeted, killed and murdered, and as well, many of them being taken as hostages,” Albanese was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Albanese wrote, “Australia stands with our friend Israel in this time. We condemn the indiscriminate and abhorrent attacks by Hamas on Israel, its cities and civilians. We recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.”

Norway: The country, which was instrumental in bringing the Oslo Accords, has condemned Hamas for attacking Israeli civilians. “Norway condemns in the strongest of terms the attacks on Israeli civilians and calls for an immediate halt to the attacks and violence,” Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt was quoted as saying by the Norwegian media.

The Norwegian support to Israel is surprising as Huitfeldt had reportedly met both Israeli and Palestinian authorities a month before and had lamented that a Palestinian state had not yet come into being.

Austria: Adopting one of the most pro-Israel postures among the European Union countries in recent times, Austria announced suspension of aid to Palestinians after the Hamas attack.

“The extent of the terror is so horrific...that we cannot go back to business as usual. We will therefore put all payments from Austrian development cooperation on ice for the time being,” Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg was quoted as saying in a radio programme by Reuters.

The country has suspended aid worth $20 million for some projects it is running in Palestine.

Germany: While expressing solidarity with people of Israel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Israel to avoid a wider Middle East conflict and Hezbollah's intervention.

“Chancellor Scholz renewed Germany's full solidarity with the people of Israel in these difficult times and emphasised that Germany stands unwaveringly at Israel's side,” a spokesperson for the Chancellery was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.

India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (October 10) spoke with his Israeli counterpart to express India’s support. “India stands firmly with Israel... strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism...” Modi was quoted as saying.

However, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday (October 12) said that India “always advocated... direct negotiations towards establishing... a sovereign, independent, and viable state of Palestine” where Palestinians would be “living within secure and recognised borders, side-by-side (and) at peace with Israel”.

Countries supporting Hamas

Iran: Known for its open and steadfast support for the Palestine cause, Iran hailed the attack on Israel. “This victorious operation, which will facilitate and accelerate the collapse of the Zionist regime, promises the impending destruction of the Zionist regime,” Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying in media reports.

Saudi Arabia: The Arab country has called for a two-state solution and cessation of the conflict.

“The Kingdom renews the call of the international community to assume its responsibilities and activate a credible peace process that leads to the two-state solution to achieve security and peace in the region and protect civilians,” a Saudi Arabia, for which the Palestinian conflict has been a point of contention with Israel, said in a statement.

Qatar: The country, which is home to Hamas political office, has come out in open support of Hamas and the Palestinian cause while holding Israel responsible for the conflict.

“Israel alone bears the responsibility for the current escalation due to its ongoing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people, the latest of which being the repeated raids on al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the Israeli police,” Qatar foreign ministry was quoted as said saying in media reports.

Egypt: Though one of the main adversaries of Israel, Egypt recognised Israel after the Camp David Accords and has diplomatic ties with Israel. However, the country has supported the Palestinian struggle and has mediated in the decades-old Israel–Hamas conflict.

Lebanon: The country has no diplomatic ties with Israel. It fought a war with Israel in 2006. The pro-Palestinian country is also known for the stronghold of Hezbollah, another militant outfit and sworn enemy of Israel.

Syria: The country has historically been an adversary of Israel since 1967 war, with Golan Heights being a flashpoint. A victorious Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. The country remains hostile to Israel in its policy and sympathetic to the Palestinian cause.

United Arab Emirates: The country like Iran and other Middle East countries support a two-state solution, even though it has diplomatic and economic ties with Israel.

Russia: Though President Vladimir Putin condemned Hamas' attacks of “unprecedented brutality”, he is reportedly emphasised the “creation of an independent Palestine state with East Jerusalem as its capital” to resolve the conflict, during his speech at the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit on Friday (October 13).

China: The country is walking a tightrope on the Israel-Hamas conflict. China has supported the Palestinian struggle and reportedly trained and armed various militant groups including the PLO. The country has called on “relevant parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and immediately end the hostilities to protect civilians and avoid further deterioration of the situation,” according to media reports. It also condemned “all violence and attacks on civilians,” without naming Hamas.