Israel’s ongoing military campaign throughout Gaza has further exacerbated those sentiments. Consequently, the country is becoming increasingly isolated from most of its former friends and allies. For many of us, the war began when Israel did not react to the Hamas attack of October 7. It has generated global outcry, with more countries raising their voices against Israel’s actions and discontinuing military aid. As the situation continues to unfold, there is no question that Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued an unequivocal rebuke. On his administration’s watch, there will be no Palestinian state.
The war in Gaza has reached a decisive moment. Britain, Canada, and Australia have condemned this far and wide and Portugal. Palestine, its sovereignty wavering, calling into question the legitimacy of this formerly unquestioned diplomatic order. Such recognition highlights the increased global frustrations with Israel’s belligerent actions and systematic settlement expansions in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu’s rhetoric has intensified, asserting, “I have a clear message to those leaders recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7th: you are giving a massive prize to terror.” This declaration underlines his government’s persistent failure to recognize Palestinian sovereignty. At the same time, they are largely focused on increasing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israel has maintained control over East Jerusalem since the 1967 Six-Day War. Yet they have furthered settlements, the building of which have shattered any hope for a contiguous, viable Palestinian state. The Israeli military intimately governs large swaths of the West Bank. They establish a network of physical barriers, checkpoints and bypass roads that separate Palestinian communities from one another.
Palestinian communities such as al-Ram in the West Bank are cut off from each other by a huge wall built by Israel. Though Israel calls this barrier a security measure, many consider it an instrument of apartheid. This arbitrary division deepens the humanitarian crisis experienced by the 2 million Palestinians who call these areas home.
As the conflict continues, hospitals in Gaza are being pushed to the brink, facing catastrophic casualties. One recent Sunday, almost 50 of these bodies were recorded in less than 12 hours. The immense humanitarian cost calls into question the legitimacy of Israel’s military operations and their compliance with international humanitarian law. Luc Frieden, legislator, luminary and former Minister of Justice, declared, “We feel it very much that it is absolutely necessary that we restore international law. Clearly, what is happening currently in Gaza is a violation of international humanitarian law.”
The United States has historically been one of the strongest defenders of Israel. Yet, while taking a stand against Israel’s ethnic cleansing in Gaza, it has opposed votes to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. Mike Waltz, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, has voiced concerns regarding Russia’s incursions into NATO territory while navigating the complex dynamics of Middle Eastern politics.
Protests have taken place in every continent against Israel’s military offensive. Workers with unions all around Italy participated in demonstrations. They were loving, warm, and powerful advocates for the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, demonstrating tremendous international anger with the current war. As tensions rise, many activists and political leaders emphasize that halting arms sales to Israel is crucial for mitigating further violence.
The fate is still very much up in the air, as pressure continues to mount for a return to serious peace talks. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has issued a firm plea for a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He hopes for a day when the State of Palestine and the State of Israel will live together, in peace, security and friendship.
Even today, Netanyahu’s government is still under fire for its extreme overall treatment of Palestine. He has committed, in fact, to announcing responses to international pressures after his planned visit to the United States in September. These are significant signs of prior change in strategy, but he has not budged on opposition to Palestinian statehood. We’ll have more on this latest bid to establish a terror state on our doorstep once I return from the States. Look for my reaction as this important policy issue unfolds. Wait for it,” he stated.
People are rightly calling for peace negotiations and part of that is recognizing the need to restore the two-state solution. Luc Frieden remarked on this urgency: “The only way forward is to make sure that now the two-state solution gets new energy (and) a second chance.” This is the sentiment that is starting to take hold among some international leaders calling for a return to dialogue as violence continues to escalate.
