Israel rejected the joint statement signed by 25 Western nations and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Hadja Lahbib that calls for an “unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza and condemns Israel’s handling of the humanitarian situation in the territory.
The statement, released yesterday, was signed by the top diplomats of 20 EU member states, including the UK, France, and Italy, along with their counterparts from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada.
Notably, however, Israel’s European allies, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia, chose not to sign. Also, U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio and the EU’s foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas are also absent from among the signatories.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded to the statement by saying that Hamas has “stubbornly” refused the latest ceasefire proposal, which Israel agreed to, is “running a campaign to spread lies about Israel,” and is “deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid,” the ministry added.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said he spoke on the phone with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and expressed his “greatest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation, especially in light of the expansion of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.”
