The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, both of which normalized relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords, have condemned the attacks.
The UAE, which in 2020 became the first Persian Gulf country to normalize relations with Israel in about three decades, said Sunday that Hamas’s attacks were a “serious and grave escalation” and called for de-escalation and civilian protections on both sides.
“The UAE reaffirmed that the international community must remain resolute in the face of these violent attempts to derail ongoing regional efforts aimed at dialogue, cooperation, and coexistence,” the statement said, “and must not allow nihilistic destruction to overtake a region whose people have already suffered enough war and trauma.”
Bahrain’s initial statement Saturday made no mention of Hamas and warned that “the continuation of violence will impede the efforts aiming at achieving a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.” But on Monday, the Foreign Ministry joined the UAE in calling Hamas’s attacks an “escalation” and denounced the “reported kidnappings.”
Morocco, which has also agreed to normalize relations with Israel, was more muted in its response. It expressed “deep concern” while condemning attacks on civilians “wherever they may be.” But one of Morocco’s largest parties in Parliament called Hamas’s actions “heroic” and a “legitimate reaction to daily violations.”
Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement published by the official Sudan News Agency that the violence stemmed from a decline in international interest in the Palestinian issue. Sudan signed the Abraham Accords in 2021.
“Sudan renews its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to have their independent state,” the statement read.
Saudi Arabia, which has been in talks for months with Israel about a potential normalization agreement but is not part of the Abraham Accords, called for an immediate end to the violence. It did not explicitly denounce Hamas.
“The Kingdom recalls its repeated warnings of the dangers of the explosion of the situation as a result of the continued occupation, the deprivation of the Palestinian people of their legitimate rights, and the repetition of systematic provocations against its sanctities,” the statement read.
