EU Policy Chief Borrell, NGOs and host of Muslim nations condemn Israeli ‘massacre’ in hostage rescue operation

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, despite initially releasing a short statement hailing the return of the four Israeli hostages following Saturday's dramatic rescue operation in Nuseirat, located in central Gaza, quickly released a second statement condemning Israel for “another massacre of civilians.” 

“Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling. We condemn this in the strongest terms,” Borrell wrote on 𝕏. 

The EU diplomat also called for “an enduring ceasefire” following the outline presented by U.S. President Joe Biden at the end of May. 

“The bloodbath must end immediately. @POTUS 3-stage plan is the way forward for an enduring ceasefire and to end the killing,” he wrote.

Borrell has a history of anti-Israel actions and statements, including seeking sanctions against Israel over alleged human rights violations. 

Christopher Lockyear, secretary general of the aid organization Doctors Without Borders, called the situation in Gaza “apocalyptic,” and repeated the Palestinian claim that many of the casualties were “women and children.” 

In an interview with CNN, Lockyear also accused Israel of creating “a situation of extreme propaganda” regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip. 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described the hostage rescue operation in Nuseirat as a “bloody massacre” and called for an emergency UN Security Council session. 

Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said, "We hold the U.S. administration fully responsible for the massacres committed by the Israeli occupation forces.” 

He also said the PA is calling for an “immediate halt” to the war in Gaza.

"We demand an immediate halt to this war, which will destroy everything and push the situation to a dangerous phase that will not bring security or peace to anyone,” stated Rudeineh.

The Hamas-led Government Media Office in Gaza claimed at least 200 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 injured in the operation, adding that many of them were “women and children.” 

Arab and Muslim leaders were quick to condemn the so-called “massacre.” 

Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement denouncing “the brutal Israeli attack that targeted the Nuseirat camp today, which resulted in the death of 150 Palestinians and the injury of hundreds.” 

The ministry claimed the IDF's operation “reflects the systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians, the Israeli persistence in violating international law and international humanitarian law, and continuing to commit war crimes.” 

Egypt, which has been turning increasingly hostile toward Israel since the beginning of the war, also condemned the operation.

Calling it “a flagrant violation of international law,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry stated: “Egypt holds Israel legally and morally responsible for this blatant aggression, demanding its compliance with its obligations as an occupying power.” 

The Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement expressing its “strong condemnation and denunciation of the barbaric attack launched by the Israeli occupation forces on Nuseirat camp, which caused a massacre that killed more than 200 innocent people and left hundreds injured, in flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.” 

None of the individuals, organizations, or states decrying Israel’s operation mentioned the human rights violations and breach of international codes of war by the terrorist organizations Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.