Latvia voices disapproval of Israel's plan to amplify its military actions in the Gaza Strip, according to the Foreign Ministry's stance.
Israel has announced a plan to take control of Gaza City, a move that has sparked strong criticism from the international community. The plan, which aims to "defeat" Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was announced two years into the war in Gaza, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023.
Israel occupied Gaza in 1967 but withdrew troops and settlers from it in 2005. The Israeli security cabinet has approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City. However, Israel plans to take full control of Gaza but does not intend to govern it. Instead, Israel wants a "security perimeter" and to hand the Palestinian territory to "Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans a good life."
The international response to Israel's plan has been strongly critical, emphasizing urgent humanitarian concerns and adherence to international law. The United Nations' top human rights official, Volker Türk, has called for the immediate halt of Israel's military takeover plan, stating that such a move violates international law and will lead to massive forced displacement, further deaths, widespread suffering, destruction, and potential atrocity crimes.
Japan has also expressed strong concern over Israel's decision, highlighting that the plan will worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. Japan called for a return to negotiations aiming for a ceasefire and hostage release, opposing any actions that undermine a two-state solution. Japan emphasized the urgent need to address starvation and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and stressed Israel's obligation to fully comply with international and humanitarian law.
Latvia does not support Israel's decision to expand its military operation in the Gaza Strip. The Latvian Foreign Ministry believes that the Hamas militant group must immediately release all hostages and lay down their arms and relinquish power in Gaza. Latvia also believes that humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza should be increased. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged Israel to reconsider its plan to take control of Gaza City, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced that Germany would stop exporting arms to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has called on the Israeli government to reconsider its decision to expand the war into the Gaza Strip. Under the plan, the Israeli army will prepare to take control of Gaza City while distributing humanitarian assistance to the civilian population outside combat zones.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, faces mounting pressure at home and abroad for a truce to pull the Palestinian territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and to spare hostages held by Palestinian militants. The humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the risk of widespread famine, and the high number of Palestinian casualties are "deeply worrying" to Latvia.
Representatives of Latvian parties mostly avoided giving an assessment of the Israeli leadership's decision on Friday, mainly due to lack of information about it. The international community continues to urge Israel to prioritize peace efforts, humanitarian access, and compliance with international law in its dealings with Gaza.
- The Israeli prime minister's plan for a military takeover of Gaza City, initiated to defeat Hamas, has led to a heated debate about policy and legislation in politics, with the international community urging Israel to prioritize peace efforts, humanitarian access, and compliance with international law.
- The Israeli government's expansion of its military operation in the Gaza Strip, aimed at taking full control of Gaza, has been met with criticism from various nations, including Japan, Latvia, and the European Commission, who emphasize the need for adherence to international law and the importance of addressing war-and-conflicts in a manner that alleviates general-news such as starvation and humanitarian crises.
