Gaza Strip: The catastrophic situation and the awakening of awareness
In light of the continued disgraceful practices carried out by the Israeli occupation, numerous governments, parliaments, and influential political, civil, intellectual, media, and artistic figures across the Western world have recently voiced growing concern and resentment regarding the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories.
For a significant period, these bodies remained captive to the narrative propagated by Israeli propaganda entities concerning the events of 7 October 2023—a false narrative that revolved around the claim of "Israel's right to self-defence." This discourse, however, was ultimately exposed as deeply flawed, as the brutal military actions against civilians—particularly women and children—laid bare the fallacy of such a right, which was advanced with blatant disregard for the principles of international humanitarian law.
The position adopted by a "strong majority" of European Union member states—17 out of 27—regarding reviewing the partnership agreement with Israel, as proposed by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, carries significant political and rights implications. This stance is rooted in the agreement's foundational requirement for the "respect of human rights and democratic values."
Other decisive measures, including the recognition of the State of Palestine, the imposition of sanctions against Israel, arms embargoes, the suspension of free trade negotiations, and the prohibition of settler product imports, represent meaningful steps towards intensifying international pressure to end the war. These actions also reflect an encouraging evolution towards a more just and balanced understanding of this historical conflict, aligning with the two-state vision.
In this context, the latest Madrid Conference—held with the active participation of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States—aligns with this pivotal shift towards the pursuit of a viable political horizon for resolving the conflict, one that embraces the two-state solution as a realistic and sustainable path in accordance with international resolutions.
The suffocating humanitarian crisis in Gaza—marked by a soaring death toll, unprecedented numbers of wounded and missing persons, widespread devastation, starvation, and siege—alongside repeated incursions into the West Bank and provocative practices in Jerusalem, has laid bare the reality of this appalling war. It has shown the world the reality of this horrific war over the course of horrific months, which has reached its peak with its grave violations and moral decline in the treatment of innocent civilians, to the point of severe aggression against their human dignity.
Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi,
Assistant Secretary-General,
Head of the Media and Communication Sector
