Spain, Ireland, and Norway demand immediate ceasefire in Gaza

At a press conference in Brussels, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed the binding nature of the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) ruling, which ordered Israel to halt its offensive in Rafah. Eide highlighted that continued warfare in Rafah breaches international law and underscored the compulsory measures mandated by the ICJ.

"This is a serious problem for all of us, as it creates the impression that these norms do not apply universally," Eide stated. "The International Court of Justice is everybody's court."

Eide mentioned that discussions leading up to this decision included meetings with donors to the Palestinian Authority and the new Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. The meetings focused on improving service delivery and governance, including the integration of Gaza into a structured Palestinian administration. Additionally, Eide chaired a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal to discuss a regional peace plan, which includes normalization between Saudi Arabia and other Arab states.

"The context in which Spain, Ireland, and Norway chose to recognize Palestine is clear," Eide said. "We encourage other countries to follow suit, as many European nations are already considering this step."

Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin condemned the attack in Rafah, describing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "barbaric" and urging Israel to cease its military operations immediately.

"All UN agencies and humanitarian groups predicted that any military operation in Rafah would have dire consequences for the population in Gaza, and that is exactly what is happening," Martin stated. He called for the unconditional release of hostages and a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and the independence of international legal institutions.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares echoed these sentiments, criticizing Israel for its lack of diplomatic courtesy in recent actions against European diplomats. He reaffirmed the need for an immediate ceasefire and the importance of upholding international law.

"Yesterday's bombing is yet another instance of innocent Palestinian civilians being killed," Albares said. "This stresses the urgency of our call for an immediate ceasefire, especially following the binding decision by the International Court of Justice."

Albares announced his intention to rally support from other EU nations to back the ICJ’s decision and take measures to enforce it if Israel continues to disregard the court’s ruling.

"Our objective is to recognize the state of Palestine, achieve a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible, and ultimately reach a final peace," Albares concluded.

The coordinated recognition of the state of Palestine by Spain, Ireland, and Norway is seen as a significant step towards reviving efforts for a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. The ministers collectively emphasized that this move aims to support moderate, non-violent forces and break the cycle of violence, promoting a future where both Palestinian and Israeli states can coexist peacefully. (ILKHA)