The foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain condemned the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and the declaration of the occupying force’s intention to establish a permanent presence in Gaza City.

In a joint statement, the ministers affirmed that the military escalation has led to the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians, especially women, children, and the elderly, and has contributed to increased forced displacement and the destruction of civilian infrastructure. They described the targeting of shelters for displaced persons as “unacceptable” and a blatant violation of international law.

Aggression on Gaza

They expressed shock at the worsening famine in Gaza according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), warning of the risk of disease outbreaks. They called on Israel, as the occupying power, to fulfill its humanitarian obligations and allow international organizations to operate to mitigate the disaster.

The ministers voiced concern over settlement expansion in the West Bank, considering it illegal and a serious obstacle to the two-state solution, and condemned the rise in attacks by settlers amid impunity.

Humanitarian Aid

They stressed that the international community will not remain silent in the face of human rights violations, calling for a permanent ceasefire and ensuring the unimpeded entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip is a small coastal territory on the Mediterranean Sea that has been a strategically significant crossroads for various empires throughout history, from the ancient Egyptians to the Ottomans. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it fell under Egyptian administration until it was occupied by Israel in 1967. It is now a densely populated Palestinian territory governed by Hamas and is the focus of a long-standing and severe Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Gaza City

Gaza City is a historic coastal metropolis in the Palestinian territories, with a history of continuous habitation for over 3,000 years. It has been ruled by numerous empires, including the Egyptians, Philistines, Romans, and Ottomans. Today, it is a major urban center and the administrative capital of the Gaza Strip.

West Bank

The West Bank is a landlocked territory in the Middle East, forming the core of the Palestinian territories. It has a long and complex history of settlement and rule, including by the ancient Israelites, Romans, Ottomans, and the British. Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was annexed by Jordan and was later occupied by Israel after the 1967 Six-Day War.