A united front of Foreign Ministers from 26 countries, including Ireland, has issued a strong condemnation of what they describe as the “drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians” in Gaza. Their statement calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the urgent release of all Israeli hostages held within the enclave.
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Among the signatories are representatives from Ireland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The statement critiques Israel’s current aid delivery model, describing it as “dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of their human dignity.” As one of the ministers remarked, “The Israeli government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” highlighting the urgent need for adherence to international humanitarian law.
In response, Israel dismissed the statement, arguing that it is “disconnected from reality” and misrepresents their situation, thereby sending the wrong message to Hamas.
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The current aid distribution is facilitated through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is backed by Israel and the United States. GHF maintains that the situation is safe and asserts that it is the only organization capable of delivering aid on a large scale in Gaza. However, UN agencies have raised concerns, warning that a new ground offensive in Deir al-Balah further hampers humanitarian efforts in a rapidly deteriorating environment.
The foreign ministers’ statement also denounces the “continued detention” of hostages who are “cruelly held captive by Hamas.” “We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release,” the statement emphasizes. It continues, “A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and alleviating the suffering of their families.”
Moreover, the ministers categorically reject proposals to relocate the Palestinian population into a “humanitarian city,” declaring that “permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.”
They concluded with a unified voice: “Further bloodshed serves no purpose. We are prepared to take additional action to support an immediate ceasefire and pave a path toward security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.”
Read more: Israeli tanks enter Gaza’s Deir Al-Balah for the first time.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
