World politicians condemn Hezbollah attacks on Israel that killed 12 people

Former President Donald Trump blamed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the Hezbollah rocket attack on a soccer field in northern Israel that killed 12 children and teenagers during his campaign rally in Minnesota on Saturday night.

Former President Donald Trump said the attacks – which targeted the Druze minority – “must not be forgotten” and pointed the finger at the Biden administration.

“I want to condemn the evil attack on Israel that took place today. A rocket fired by Hezbollah killed at least a dozen children, young children. They were playing on a soccer field in the Golan Heights,” Trump told the crowd in St. Cloud.

“Today’s attack on Israel must not be forgotten and will go down in history as another moment caused by a weak and ineffective President and Vice President of the United States,” Trump said.

While Biden and Harris have not yet commented on the attacks, a statement from the White House National Security Council said the U.S. would “continue to support efforts to end these horrific attacks along the Blue Line, which must be a top priority.”

“Our support for Israel’s security is rock-solid and unwavering against all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah,” the council said.

Although the Lebanese government did not specifically mention the attack, it issued a statement calling for an “immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts” and condemning all attacks on civilians.

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called for an independent international investigation into the attacks and urged restraint.

“Shocking images from the football field in the Druze town of Majdal Shams. I condemn this bloodbath in the strongest possible terms. We call on all parties to exercise extreme restraint and avoid further escalation,” he posted on X.

Israel has vowed to respond to the deadliest attack on the country since the October 7 Hamas massacre that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to Israel after visiting the United States, said he had spoken to local leaders about the attack.

“The entire nation of Israel sends its deepest condolences to the families of those killed and to the entire Druze community,” he said in a statement.

“Israel will not put the murderous attack on the agenda. Hezbollah will pay a high price for it, which it has not paid so far,” he threatened.

Israeli authorities said at least 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon at Israel on Saturday.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel was not facing a “total war” with Hezbollah in the north.

If Israel were to retaliate, Katz said, it would have the “full support” of the United States and Europe.

The Hezbollah attack came after Israeli forces carried out an airstrike in southern Lebanon, about 16 kilometers from Majdal Shams, killing four members of the terrorist group.

A Hezbollah spokesman told the Associated Press that the terrorist group “categorically denies carrying out an attack on Majdal Shams.”

The victims, all between the ages of 10 and 20, were Druze – an ethnic-religious Arab minority whose main language is Arabic and who make up only 1.6 percent of Israel’s population.

The weekend’s attack could complicate another round of peace talks in Rome, which are due to begin on Sunday. CIA Director Bill Burns, Mossad Director David Barnea, the Prime Minister of Qatar and the head of Egyptian intelligence are expected to attend the talks.