• ‘People of Gaza are not Hamas and cannot be held collectively responsible and punished,’ Jean Asselborn tells Anadolu

• Israel must fully comply with international law and protect civilians, hospitals and schools must never be targeted, says Asselborn

• Humanitarian corridors and pauses are essential while working toward a cease-fire and cessation of hostilities, says Asselborn

• Israel’s evacuation orders ‘highly dangerous’ and cannot take place ‘without devastating humanitarian consequences,’ Asselborn warns

BERLIN

Luxembourg’s foreign minister has called on Israel to act in full compliance with international humanitarian law and ensure protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip, while stressing that “a cease-fire must be reached as soon as possible.”

“The people of Gaza are not Hamas and cannot be held collectively responsible and punished for the horrors committed by the latter,” Jean Asselborn told Anadolu.

“Israel must ensure the protection of the civilian population of Gaza at all times. United Nations premises and all hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted,” he said.

Europe’s longest-serving foreign minister said Israel has a right to defend itself after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, but underlined that the latest situation in Gaza is extremely alarming.

More than 11,300 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza, including nearly 7,800 children and women, and around 29,000 others have been injured.

A group of UN experts recently warned that Palestinians are “at a grave risk of genocide” as the Israeli government has imposed a total blockade, cutting off water, food and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip.

“Israel’s call for 1.1 million people in the northern Gaza Strip to evacuate to the south is not feasible and highly dangerous under the present circumstances for many civilians,” Asselborn said.

“As the United Nations has declared, such a move cannot take place without devastating humanitarian consequences.”

- Urgent need for cease-fire

The Social Democrat politician reiterated his appeal for an immediate pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population, and to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“It is imperative that rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access be restored without delay. To this end, we must rapidly put in place humanitarian corridors and pauses, while working towards a cease-fire and a cessation of hostilities,” he said.

Asselborn underlined that global and regional powers should step up their diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict, and strive to secure a cease-fire.

“The request for a humanitarian pause is a vital first step to permit urgently needed humanitarian access while hostilities continue, but it is clear that a cease-fire must be reached as soon as possible,” Asselborn stressed.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far rejected cease-fire calls, saying the Israeli military will continue its military campaign until it destroys Hamas.

- Efforts for release of hostages

Luxembourg’s foreign minister said ongoing diplomatic efforts to free more than 200 hostages could help to de-escalate the situation and open the way for political talks.

“It is crucial that the hostages are released immediately and without conditions,” Asselborn said.

“To this end, it is important that the governments that do have channels of contact with Hamas help negotiate the release of the many hostages still in captivity,” he said.

Asselborn also said that continuing talks with regional actors is necessary to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East region.

“We must absolutely avoid any regional conflagration of this conflict, as the United Nations has warned. To this end, the international community and the main players in the region need to work together to avoid any escalation,” he stressed.

- Reviving Middle East peace process

The experienced politician, who has been the foreign minister of Luxembourg since 2004, acknowledged that European nations have neglected Middle East peacemaking for almost a decade and did not make strong efforts to promote a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

He said European countries, together with international partners, must now take urgent steps to help relaunch the peace process, and put it at the top of their agenda.

“We must collectively restart work toward a two-state solution and a political settlement to this conflict, which for generations has been a source of misery and grief for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Asselborn said.

“I am deeply convinced that the two-state solution remains the only possible option for a lasting peace.”