German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has strongly criticized the Israeli offensive in Gaza City, labeling it a move in the "completely wrong direction." Speaking alongside his Swedish counterpart, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Wadephul emphasized the urgent need for renewed negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. He called on the Israeli government and entities connected to Hamas to prioritize diplomatic solutions over further military escalation.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared Gaza City a "dangerous combat zone" as the offensive intensifies, suspending tactical pauses for humanitarian aid. This has led to significant infrastructure damage and a rise in civilian casualties. Humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF), report dire conditions, with overwhelmed hospitals and devastated neighborhoods, highlighting the collapse of the healthcare system due to damaged facilities and shortages of essential supplies.
In parallel, the UN General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration, which advocates for a two-state solution and explicitly excludes Hamas. The declaration condemns Hamas's attacks on civilians and calls for its removal from governance in Gaza, proposing the handover of weapons to the Palestinian Authority. This resolution, backed by 142 nations, aims to promote lasting peace, though Israel and the United States voted against it.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has stressed the importance of targeted measures, proposing sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinian villages, rather than broad cuts to EU funding. He reiterated Italy's opposition to plans for occupying Gaza City or forcibly displacing Palestinians, while reaffirming support for a two-state solution. Sweden, through Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, has also expressed concern, warning that Israel's actions in Gaza could violate international law and stressing the necessity of a ceasefire.
The international community is closely monitoring the escalating situation, with a strong desire for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue to achieve a lasting peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Germany's Wadephul has also criticized Israel's strategy of denying food and medicine to civilians as unacceptable and a violation of international humanitarian law, warning that continued violations could lead to a halt in German arms supplies.