JAKARTA - Fifteen countries, including Finland, Canada, Australia and a number of European countries signed a joint French-led declaration, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all the hostages that Hamas presents and a new international push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We, the Foreign Ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain, reaffirm our firm commitment to the vision of a two-state solution," said the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, launching Anadolu July 30.
Foreign ministers from the 15 countries issued a joint statement late Tuesday following a high-level conference on the implementation of a two-state solution at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
"In New York, along with 14 other countries, France issued a collective call: we expressed our desire to recognize the Palestinian State and invite those who have not done so to join us," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote on social media X, quoted from Daily Sabah.
According to the joint statement, the signatories underlined that two democratic countries, Israel and Palestine, must coexist peacefully within a safe and internationally recognized border, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
They also emphasized the importance of uniting the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
The signatories "expressed deep concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situations in Gaza and stressed the important role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian aid."
The ministers welcomed the commitments made by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on June 10, saying "(I) condemning the October 7 terrorist attack, (II) calling for the release of hostages and Hamas weapons removal, (III) committed to ending the prisoner payment system, (IV) committed to educational reform, (V) committed to holding elections within a year to trigger generation updates, and (VI) accepted the principle of demilitarized Palestinian State."
"We have acknowledged, have expressed or expressed the willingness or positive consideration of our countries to recognize the Palestinian State, as an important step towards a two-state solution," the statement read.
"We invite all countries that have not done so to join this call," the statement exclaimed.
It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out after a Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 people dead and another 251 held hostage according to Israeli calculations.
Israel responded to this by blocking, airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip region.
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Israel and the Palestinian militant group agreed to a ceasefire as well as exchange of hostages and detainees on January 19. At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive. The majority of the initial hostages have been released through diplomatic negotiations, although the Israeli military has also released several hostages.
On March 2, Israel again carried out a total blockade against Gaza on the pretext of pressuring Palestinian militant groups to agree on a ceasefire proposed by the United States and a exchange of hostages. Over the end of the ceasefire agreement, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18.
Yesterday, Gaza's Ministry of Health announced in a statement Tuesday that the death toll in the Gaza Strip had risen to 60,034 people, most of whom were children and women, since the start of the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023, quoted from WAFA.
Meanwhile, the number of injured victims has increased to 145,870 people, amid continued airstrikes, artillery strikes, and shootings of residential areas and shelters.
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