Czech premier says moving embassy to Jerusalem would be 'desirable step' now

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Monday reiterated his wish to relocate his country's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, saying it would be "a desirable step" now.

"I have personally been a proponent of relocating the Czech Embassy to Jerusalem for a long time. I am convinced that this would be a desirable step at the present time," Fiala wrote on X.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the decades-long Middle East conflict, with Palestinians insisting that East Jerusalem-illegally occupied by Israel since 1967-should serve as the capital of the Palestinian state.

Following the US's relocation of its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, only a few countries followed suit, including Honduras, Guatemala and Kosovo, while many other countries opposed the decisions.

"I intend to discuss the specific course of action in this situation with my coalition partners," he added.

Fiala's remarks came amid escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine. He also welcomed the European Union's decision to review its financial assistance to the Palestinian territories.

"This is a step that I have previously supported," he said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell later said that the bloc's assistance to Palestine will continue without suspension.

The Gaza-based Palestinian resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and growing settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza has risen to 687, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Monday. It said the number of injured had surged to 2,900.

At least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,600 others wounded in the fighting, according to local media.