Malta among 28 countries criticising Israel for 'unacceptable' actions in Gaza
A joint statement signed by 28 countries was published on Monday
Updated 4.25pm with PN statement calling for recognition of a Palestinian state.
Malta has joined 27 other countries in calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza, in a statement first published by the British Foreign Office on Monday evening.
The statement urges the international community “to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end, through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire”.
It condemns “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children,” noting that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid.
The statement describes the Israeli government’s blockade on humanitarian assistance as “unacceptable,” calling on Israel to “comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law”.
“We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life saving work safely and effectively” the statement said.
The countries criticise Israel’s plans to forcibly transfer Palestinians to a camp on the ruins of the Gazan city of Rafah, saying the proposal is “completely unacceptable”.
They also slam Israel’s E1 settlement plan, which would see the development of over 3,000 housing units for Israeli settlers on a tract of land between (the mostly Palestinian-inhabited) East Jerusalem and the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. The plans “would divide a Palestinian state in two” and “critically undermine the two-state solution,” the statement says.
The statement also condemns the continued detention of hostages held by Hamas, calling for their “immediate and unconditional release”.
Aside from Malta, the statement was signed by Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management also signed the statement.
Writing on Tuesday morning, Momentum chairperson Arnold Cassola expressed his support for the statement, saying it “demonstrates that a shred of human decency still prevails in international politics.”
Nevertheless, Malta is yet to formally recognise Palestine as a state, after plans to do so in June were derailed by the postponement of a United Nations conference.
PN: Abela dragging his feet on recognition of Palestinian state
The Nationalist Party in a statement on Tuesday afternoon, backed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and criticised the prime minister for dragging his feet on recognising a Palestinian state.
"It is unacceptable that so many innocent people continue to be killed every day with absolute impunity," the party said.
It said the Maltese government must explain why 'it is backtracking' on its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state.
"It must say whether there is pressure being placed on it to continue withholding recognition of the Palestinian State," it said.
The way forward, it added, must be lasting peace based on the existence and mutual respect between the Israeli State and the Palestinian State.
The statement was signed by Beppe Fenech Adami, shadow minister for foreign affairs and Beppe Galea, PN international secretary.