BRUSSELS
The second day of a meeting between NATO defense ministers continued Thursday with discussions on the situation in Israel and its wider implications for the Middle East.
Speaking to reporters on the way to the meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the defense chiefs would address a “wide range of issues,” including support for Ukraine and the future of the alliance’s missions in Kosovo and Iraq.
He added that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant would brief those attending on attacks against Israel over the weekend by Gaza-based Palestinian group Hamas.
For his part, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the Washington shared the “outrage at the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas,” and reaffirmed Washington’s “determination to support Israel’s right to defend itself.”
He also highlighted that the defense ministers would continue talks on strengthening NATO’s defense and deterrence as a follow-up of the leaders’ summit held in July.
On the first day of the meeting, NATO ministers participated in the NATO-Ukraine Council and Ukraine Defense Contact Group reunion, a 54-nation bloc providing Ukraine with arms in its war with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also attended the talks.
In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began on Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.
Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
In response to Hamas’ actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel’s response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
