The Permanent Representatives of the United Kingdom, Greece, Denmark, France and Slovenia, at the UN Security Council issued a joint statement ahead of the UNSC Emergency Meeting on Gaza, condemned Israel’s decision to expand military operations in Gaza, saying it risks violating international humanitarian law.
In their joint statement, the five UN member states representatives called on Israel to reverse this decision and reiterated that any attempt to annex or expand settlements violates international law and exacerbates the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
They highlighted the dramatic situation of children dying of hunger and of civilians risking their lives to obtain food.
In their statement, the European UNSC member states reiterated the need to lift restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid and to immediately launch diplomatic efforts for a permanent ceasefire. Furthermore, they stressed that Hamas must disarm and the Palestinian Authority must assume a central role in governing Gaza. The countries also call for negotiations on a two-state solution. (Full statement below)
Netanyahu shocks international community & media
The plan of Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu to expand military operation in Gaza and to take control of Gaza City sparked international criticism.
Earlier on Sunday and while addressing international media, Netanyahu shocked correspondents, when he displayed pictures of malnourished and starving children in Gaza labeled them as “fake” and “Hamas Lies.”
He claimed that if Israel had implemented a policy of starvation, no one in Gaza would have survived and that the people in Gaze are “begging Israel to free them from Hamas.”
Israel “has no choice but to finish job and complete defeat of Hamas,” netanyahu said.
Video
NOW – Netanyahu declares Israeli ground invasion of Gaza "the best way to end the war." pic.twitter.com/THQDtOWwJo
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Netanyahu’s press briefing took place shortly before the UN Security Council meeting.
Full statement by the European member states of the UNSC:
“We, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, have requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza.
We condemn the decision of the Government of Israel to further expand military operations in Gaza. This plan risks violating international humanitarian law. We call on Israel to immediately reverse this decision and not to implement it.
We reiterate that any attempts to annex or expand settlements violate international law.
The expansion of military operations will endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and will lead to further unnecessary suffering.
This week, the Security Council heard a shocking testimony from Eli David, the brother of Eviathar David, who was brutally kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and has been held in inhumane conditions in Gaza for over 21 months.
His presentation was a stark reminder that the suffering of the remaining hostages and their families must end. The Security Council has repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. And we are clear that Hamas must disarm and have no future participation in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must play a central role.
But this decision by the Israeli Government will not secure the return of the hostages and further endangers their lives.
It will also worsen the already disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza and risks causing more deaths and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians.
The IPC has warned that famine is unfolding in Gaza. Children are dying of starvation. The hunger is so severe that desperate civilians are risking their lives at humanitarian aid distribution points to feed their families.
This is a man-made crisis and urgent action is therefore needed to stop the famine and increase aid to Gaza.
We have a clear message to Israel: lift restrictions on aid delivery so that the UN and established humanitarian partners can operate safely and at scale, in accordance with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence.
It is also vital that international NGOs can operate in Gaza. Israel’s unjustified visa and registration requirements must be removed and all land routes opened for essential supplies, including food, baby milk, medicine, fuel and clean water.
After 22 months of suffering in Gaza, now is the time for diplomacy, not more war.
The ceasefire earlier this year showed what can be achieved when there is political will. It ended the slaughter. Hostages were reunited with their loved ones. Effective humanitarian aid reached those in urgent need.
The international conference on the two-state solution last month, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was a powerful demonstration of the strength of international resolve to secure a better future and deliver long-term peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the region.
We call on both sides to secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the release of all hostages and urgently move forward with efforts to achieve a two-state solution.”
PS Greece has been for a long time reluctant to move even one little step aside from Israel that is considering as a strategic partner, apparently adopting the position & policy of Israel. This attitude drew criticism by opposition parties in Greece and also a part of the Greek society. However, as the outcry of the international community grew, also Greece decided to adapt itself and send on Saturday two cargo planes of the Air Force that dropped essential food supplies to the starving Palestinians.
