Austria urges restraint, ‘proportionate’ response from Israel

11 July 2014, 12:50 pm

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As the Palestinian death toll continues to climb, the first Western leaders are taking Israel to task for the deaths of civilians in Gaza and calling for proportionality in the army’s response to ongoing rocket fire.

“Civilian casualties have to be avoided at all costs,” Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz says in a statement.

“Even when Israel has a legitimate security concern, it needs to be proportionate and in accordance with international humanitarian law. On the other hand, the ongoing rocket fire on Israel needs to cease immediately.

“Peace is possible,” he adds. In his statement, Kurz also refers to Ramadan in calling for an end to the violence, saying the holy month “is considered for Muslims a time for peace.”

— Raphael Ahren