On Monday, 28 international locations, together with the UK, Japan, and quite a few European nations, issued a joint assertion calling on Israel that the battle on Gaza “should finish now”, marking the newest instance of intensifying criticism from Israel’s allies.
The joint assertion, signed by the overseas ministers of those international locations, condemned “the drip feeding of assist and the inhumane killing of civilians, together with youngsters, in search of to fulfill their most elementary wants of water and meals”.
The assertion comes as world strain mounts on Israel over civilian casualties at assist websites, obstruction of humanitarian assist, and violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation – because the occupied Palestinian territory simmers with hunger.
Israel’s battle on Gaza has killed greater than 59,000 individuals and wounded 140,000 because the October 7, 2023 assaults by Hamas, by which 1,139 individuals had been killed and greater than 200 had been taken captive.
So, what does the joint assertion say? Who’re these international locations? And the way have Israel and its closest ally, the USA, reacted?
What did the assertion say?
The joint assertion stated the international locations are coming collectively “with a easy, pressing message: The battle in Gaza should finish now.”
The assertion underlined that the struggling of civilians in Gaza has reached “new depths” and that the Israeli authorities’s assist supply mannequin is “harmful, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity”.
They known as on the Israeli authorities to “adjust to its obligations beneath worldwide humanitarian legislation” and instantly elevate restrictions on the stream of assist.
The group of nations additionally famous that the captives “cruelly held” by Hamas proceed to “undergo terribly” and known as for his or her quick and unconditional launch.
They stated within the assertion {that a} negotiated ceasefire affords “the very best hope of bringing [the captives] residence and ending the agony of their households”.
Demographic change, settler violence: What else did the international locations say?
The international locations criticised Israel’s plan to determine a focus zone – Israel’s imaginative and prescient of relocating your entire Palestinian inhabitants right into a fenced, closely managed zone constructed on the ruins of Rafah – as “utterly unacceptable”.
“Everlasting compelled displacement is a violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation,” the joint assertion stated.
The group of nations additionally marked its opposition to “any steps in direction of territorial or demographic change within the Occupied Palestinian Territories” and famous that the E1 settlement plan introduced would divide a Palestinian state in two, “marking a flagrant breach of worldwide legislation and critically [undermining] the two-state resolution”.
Additionally they known as out that the “settlement constructing throughout the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, has accelerated whereas settler violence towards Palestinians has soared. This should cease.”
Which international locations signed the joint assertion?
The joint assertion was signed by the overseas ministers of a complete of 28 international locations:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Eire, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.
These governments, lots of them allies of Israel, issued a few of their strongest language but, condemning the obstruction of assist within the occupied Palestinian territory.
Which of these international locations recognise Palestine?
Out of those 28 international locations from the joint assertion, 9 recognise the State of Palestine as a sovereign state.
Cyprus, Malta, and Poland recognised Palestine shortly after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988.
Iceland adopted in 2011, and Sweden in 2014. Eire, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain recognised Palestine in 2024.
How did Israel reply?
Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Overseas Affairs, wrote on X that Israel rejects the joint assertion printed by the group of nations, “as it’s disconnected from actuality and sends the improper message to Hamas”.
Israel additional claimed that as a substitute of agreeing to a ceasefire, “Hamas is busy working a marketing campaign to unfold lies about Israel” and intentionally appearing to extend friction and hurt to civilians who come to obtain humanitarian assist.
The assertion additional stated there’s a “concrete proposal for a ceasefire deal” and Hamas “stubbornly refuses to simply accept it”.
What does Hamas say in regards to the ceasefire?
The spokesperson of the army wing of Hamas stated Israel was the one which rejected a ceasefire settlement to launch all captives held in Gaza.
Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Obeida stated in a prerecorded video, launched on Friday, that the group had in latest months provided a “complete deal” that will launch all captives directly – however it was rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right ministers.
“It has turn out to be clear to us that the federal government of the felony Netanyahu has no actual curiosity within the captives as a result of they’re troopers,” he stated, including that Hamas favours a deal that ensures an finish to the battle, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and entry of humanitarian assist for besieged Palestinians.
Hamas remains to be holding 50 individuals in Gaza, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
What’s Israel blocking from getting into Gaza, claiming that Hamas can use it?
Israel continues to dam the entry of important humanitarian provides into Gaza, claiming that Hamas may divert or repurpose them for army use.
Among the many objects withheld are: Child method, meals, water filters, and medicines.
Medication and medical provides face blocks as a part of Israel’s “dual-use” restrictions, the place objects like painkillers and dialysis gear are held again, ostensibly for doable Hamas exploitation in army contexts.
Different medical gear, corresponding to oxygen cylinders, anaesthetics, and most cancers medicines, has been restricted.
Israeli authorities argue that some objects, like sure chemical substances or electronics, may have dual-use potential.
Assist teams report that the blanket denial of essential medical objects is pushing Gaza’s well being system in direction of complete collapse, and say that these restrictions are collective punishment and violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation.