European FMs condemn 'Israel's' offensives in Gaza, West Bank
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The foreign ministers of six European countries warn of famine, forced displacement, and international law violations as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.
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A Palestinian runs in front of an armored vehicle during confrontations with Israeli occupation forces following a military raid in the West Bank city of Nablus, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025 (AP)
The foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia, and Spain issued a strong condemnation of the latest Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip, denouncing both the intensification of military operations and the announcement of a permanent presence in Gaza City.
In their joint statement, the ministers warned that the escalation places captives at greater risk while causing the intolerable killing of Palestinian civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. They stressed that the forced displacement of Palestinians represents a flagrant violation of international law.
Humanitarian crisis and famine in Gaza
The ministers expressed horror following confirmation by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) that famine has been declared in Gaza Governorate, with projections of its spread in the coming weeks. This is the first confirmed famine in Gaza and only the fourth declared worldwide in the past 15 years. Over half a million people are already facing catastrophic hunger, with the number expected to rise to more than 640,000 by September 2025.
They emphasized that the systematic destruction of essential civilian infrastructure is unacceptable. The statement urged "Israel" to halt its military offensive immediately and fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Calling for urgent international action, the ministers demanded unhindered access for UN agencies and NGOs to deliver aid, stressing that the humanitarian catastrophe requires immediate large-scale relief efforts.
Settlement expansion in the West Bank
Beyond Gaza, the ministers voiced deep concern over "Israel's" approval of 3,500 new colonial settlement projects in the occupied West Bank, including the highly controversial E1 project east of al-Quds. The project, announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, aims to “erase” the concept of a Palestinian state.
They highlighted that such expansion is illegal under international law and would effectively sever the West Bank, isolating Ramallah from Beit Lahm, and making a contiguous Palestinian state impossible.
The statement further condemned the growing violence carried out by colonist settlers against Palestinians, noting that such actions are often committed with impunity.
Call for peace, humanitarian access
The ministers underscored that "Israel's" ongoing military operations in both Gaza and the West Bank are undermining the "two-state solution", which remains the only internationally recognized framework for achieving lasting peace.
They reiterated their collective stance that the international community cannot remain silent in the face of ongoing human rights violations. The joint declaration also renewed calls for the immediate release of all captives and detainees and the swift, unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid into and across Gaza.
