Six european countries: The foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain have condemned the latest Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the Israeli entity’s announcement of its intention to establish a permanent presence in Gaza City.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a joint statement, the ministers stressed that “the escalation of military operations is causing the death of innocent Palestinian civilians, particularly women, children, and the elderly,” and endangering hostages.
They condemned the forced displacement of Palestinians, considering it a flagrant violation of international law. The ministers described the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure, including centers housing vulnerable displaced persons, as “unacceptable,” calling on the Israeli occupation government to “cease its military operations immediately.”
They said, “We are shocked by the confirmation of famine in the Gaza Strip, according to the International Crisis Group (IPC) Food Security Phase Classification, and by the risk of disease spreading to surrounding areas in the coming weeks.” They stressed the need for Israel to uphold its humanitarian obligations and allow UN agencies and international organizations to fully operate to mitigate the humanitarian catastrophe.
The ministers also expressed their deep concern about colonial expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law. They warned of the escalation of settler attacks carried out with impunity, stressing that these practices constitute a serious obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution.
They affirmed that the international community “will not remain silent in the face of human rights violations,” emphasizing the need to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement that paves the way for peace. The ministers reiterated their call for the immediate release of all prisoners and for the rapid, widespread, and unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The statement was signed by: Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrn Gunnarsdottir; Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris; Luxembourg’s Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Minister of Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, Xavier Bettel; Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide; Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Tanja Fajon; and Spain’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares Bueno.