In a strongly worded joint statement, seven European countries on Friday condemned Israel’s ongoing military offensive in Gaza and escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Iceland, Luxembourg, Spain, Slovenia, Malta, Spain, and Norway declared, “We will not be silent in front of the man-made humanitarian catastrophe that is taking place before our eyes in Gaza.”
The group cited a death toll surpassing 50,000 Palestinians—many of them women and children—as a result of Israeli military action since October 2023. They issued a stark warning that thousands more could die of starvation unless humanitarian access is immediately restored.
“We call upon the government of Israel to immediately reverse its current policy, refrain from further military operations, and fully lift the blockade,” the statement continued. The countries emphasized the urgent need for “safe, rapid and unimpeded” delivery of international aid in accordance with humanitarian law.
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Beyond Gaza, the statement also condemned Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, citing “illegal settler violence, expansion of illegal settlements, and intensified Israeli military operations.”
The seven nations stressed that any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians constitutes a violation of international law, and rejected what they described as “attempts at demographic change.”
The condemnation follows intensified attacks by Israeli forces amid what Palestinian resistance group Hamas described as a “scorched earth policy.” According to the group, over 250 Palestinians have been killed in recent days alone. Hamas accused Israel of committing “horrific massacres” across the besieged Gaza Strip.
Since the start of the war in October 2023, Israel’s offensive has resulted in over 53,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Palestinian sources, with humanitarian agencies continuously raising the alarm over access to aid and civilian casualties.
The international response has also begun to materialize in legal terms. The International Criminal Court in November 2024 issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Separately, Israel is also facing a genocide case brought before the International Court of Justice, further intensifying international scrutiny.
As the crisis deepens, the joint European statement signals growing international impatience with the humanitarian toll and political impasse, placing increased pressure on Israel to cease its operations and allow relief into the region.
AA.Com
