As Israel’s killing of Palestinians continues quick and gradual, by way of air strikes and starvation, the overseas ministers of 28 nations have signed a statement calling for an finish to Israel’s warfare on Gaza.
As these nations deploy phrases months after the United Nations and different teams warned of an oncoming famine, there was little motion on different fronts.
A few of these nations have recognised the Palestinian state whereas France final week angered Israeli officers by asserting it could do the identical in September.
Nonetheless, many critics have identified that as nations make these statements, a lot of them proceed to learn from commerce with Israel and haven’t imposed sanctions or taken some other motion that would push Israel to finish its genocidal warfare on Gaza.
The warfare has killed at the least 59,821 folks in Gaza and wounded 144,477.
Right here’s all it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the nations benefiting from Israel whereas condemning its army motion:
How a lot do the signatories of the assertion commerce with Israel?
Belgium, France, Eire, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and the UK all have greater than $1bn in imports, exports or each with Israel, in keeping with 2023 figures from the Observatory of Financial Complexity.
What do these nations commerce with Israel?
Among the many prime gadgets being traded are vehicles and different motor automobiles, built-in circuits, vaccines and perfumes.
About $3.58bn in built-in circuits is the most important particular person product going to Eire, making up the overwhelming majority of Eire’s imports from Israel.
In the meantime, Italy exports to Israel greater than some other nation that signed the assertion. Its $3.49bn of exports included $116m in vehicles in 2023.
Do these nations recognise Palestine?
Of these nations that issued the assertion, Eire and Spain recognised Palestine in 2024 and have spoken strongly in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped them from persevering with commerce with Israel.
Seven different nations that signed the assertion additionally recognise the State of Palestine, together with Cyprus, Malta and Poland, all of which recognised Palestine in 1988, shortly after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence.
Iceland (2011), Sweden (2014), Norway (2024) and Slovenia (2024) additionally recognise the State of Palestine whereas France stated it can achieve this in September on the United Nations Common Meeting.
Who signed the assertion?
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Eire, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
All of them are nonetheless buying and selling with Israel.
What was Israel’s response to the assertion?
As anticipated.
Oren Marmorstein, a spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of International Affairs, wrote on X that Israel rejects the assertion, saying “it’s disconnected from actuality and sends the mistaken message to Hamas.”
What else are nations buying and selling with Israel doing?
France, Germany and the UK referred to as for an “instant ceasefire” in Gaza and “unconditional launch of all hostages” after they held an emergency name to debate the warfare and the starvation disaster created by Israel’s siege and support blockade on the enclave.
Has any of this made Israel change its behaviour?
Consideration has turned closely in direction of the hunger of Palestinians in Gaza, main even longtime Israeli stalwart supporters like former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to handle the problem.
Assist organizations report that 1000’s of youngsters in Gaza are susceptible to hunger whereas vehicles filled with meals sit ready throughout the border.
The complete circulation of humanitarian help should be restored instantly.https://t.co/dt3Z9h6KXd
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 24, 2025
This strain has led Israel to announce “tactical pauses” for “humanitarian functions” from 10am to 8pm (07:00 to 17:00 GMT) in al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah and Gaza Metropolis. They began on Sunday.
Regardless of the pauses, Israeli forces killed at the least 43 Palestinians early on Sunday.
The Palestinian Ministry of Well being in Gaza stated on Sunday that it had recorded six extra deaths over 24 hours as a consequence of famine and malnutrition, together with two kids.
This brings the entire variety of hunger deaths to 133, together with 87 kids.