Western Foreign Ministers Condemn Israel Gaza Operation, Call For Ceasefire, Two-State Solution

Several Western countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom, have strongly condemned Israel's decision to launch a new large-scale military operation in Gaza, warning it will worsen the humanitarian crisis and risk violating international law while emphasizing the need for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid. France, the UK, Canada, Malta, and Portugal have expressed intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood as a way to end the ongoing conflict, marking a significant shift among major powers, although skepticism remains about whether this recognition will aid peace efforts given Hamas's presence and the weakness of the Palestinian Authority. Israeli former national security advisor Meir Ben Shabbat criticized the recognition moves as naive, suggesting that the initiatives may not consider potential internal Palestinian consequences or realistic outcomes. Analysts note that Israel's expanding war aims, including plans for full occupation of Gaza, have faced growing international criticism as the humanitarian situation deteriorates, with some arguing that this conflict marks a failure of liberal democratic principles to resolve the longstanding territorial dispute. The broader international community's delayed recognition of Palestinian statehood highlights the stalled peace process since 2014, with renewed recognition efforts seen as attempts to catalyze negotiations toward a two-state solution, despite ongoing violence and political complexities. Meanwhile, public demonstrations of solidarity with Palestine persist globally, exemplified by cultural moments such as rapper Doechii's pro-Palestinian statement at a major music festival, reflecting widespread public engagement with the conflict.