Joint Statement from the Foreign Ministers of Australia,
Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand
and the United Kingdom strongly reject the decision of the
Israeli Security Cabinet on 8th August to launch an additional
large-scale military operation in Gaza. It will aggravate the
catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the
hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians.
The plans that the Government of Israel has announced risk
violating international humanitarian law. Any attempts at
annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.
We urge the parties and the international community to make all
efforts to finally bring this terrible conflict to an end now,
through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the
provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian
assistance, as the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding
in Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages without further delay or
precondition and must ensure they are humanely treated and not
subject to cruelty and humiliation.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We call
on the Government of Israel to urgently find solutions to amend
its recent registration system of international humanitarian
organisations, to ensure these vital actors of humanitarian aid
can continue their essential work again in line with humanitarian
principles to reach the civilians in need in Gaza. Their
exclusion would be an egregious signal.
We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a
negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that
both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace,
security, and dignity. A political resolution based on a
negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation
of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance
in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a
central role.
