UK, Italy, Austria and Germany stop short of condemning Israel over latest Gaza occupation plan

A nine-country statement backed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom among others says Israel is at “risk” of legal consequences for its decision to occupy Gaza, stopping short of earlier condemnation of the plan by France and Canada.

In the statement, the group of European countries said they “strongly reject” Israel’s move to occupy the territory, adding that it would “aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation” and put in further danger the lives of the hostages held by Hamas.

“The plans that the government of Israel has announced risk violating international humanitarian law,” the statement – which France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand also joined – reads. “Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law.”

France, which signed up to the latest statement only on Saturday afternoon after Germany, Italy and the UK, said on Friday that it “strongly condemns” Israel’s offensive plan. Canada, which also signed up late, said it “condemns” the intended occupation in its own earlier statement.

“We reject any unilateral change to the territorial or demographic status of the Gaza Strip”, said Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Austria’s foreign minister, on social media.

The new nine-country intervention, which came after Israel said it had decided to launch a full takeover of Gaza City after months of bombardment, has been met with criticism for not going far enough.

Ex-New Zealand PM Helen Clark, whose country signed the European statement, argued opting for “reject” over “condemn” blunted the message. “Why the muted language in face of catastrophe”, she asked.

On Friday, Germany said it would stop exporting arms to Israel.

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include the full list of countries that have signed up to the statement released on Saturday.

(jp)