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Former diplomats urge Paris, London to act jointly on Palestinian territories
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ธ Serbia /Conflict & Security

Former diplomats urge Paris, London to act jointly on Palestinian territories

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former French and British diplomats urged their governments to act jointly to uphold international law in the Palestinian territories.
  • They accused Israel of aiming to destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state and disregarding international rulings.
  • The diplomats recommended suspending EU-Israel agreements, halting arms transfers, and banning trade with West Bank settlements.

Dozens of former high-ranking French and British diplomats have called on Paris and London to take joint action regarding the Palestinian territories. In a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham, the diplomats accused Israel of seeking to "destroy any prospect of an independent Palestinian state" and showing contempt for international law, including rulings by the International Court of Justice and numerous UN resolutions.

Palestine is disappearing before our eyes

โ€” Former diplomatsIn a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham.

"Palestine is disappearing before our eyes," the letter stated. The signatories, including former British ambassadors to the UN Jeremy Greenstock and Emyr Jones Parry, and former French ambassador Yves Aubin de la Messuziere, emphasized the necessity of French and British involvement due to their historical roles in the Middle East. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and states that recognized Palestine in 2025, they argued, France and the UK "must together oppose the denial of equal rights between Israelis and Palestinians."

must together oppose the denial of equal rights between Israelis and Palestinians

โ€” Former diplomatsHighlighting the role of France and the UK as permanent UN Security Council members that recognized Palestine in 2025.

The diplomats acknowledged that Hamas committed "heinous crimes on October 7, 2023," but asserted that "nothing justifies the systematic policy of destroying the Gaza Strip and its population." They proposed that France and the UK suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement, halt all arms transfers to and from Israel, ban trade with West Bank settlements, and criminalize the purchase of property on occupied Palestinian land by their citizens.

nothing justifies the systematic policy of destroying the Gaza Strip and its population

โ€” Former diplomatsAcknowledging Hamas's crimes but condemning Israel's actions in Gaza.

Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The former diplomats stressed that their countries believe those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held accountable. "Only in this way can our governments refute accusations of double standards," they wrote, urging joint action to ensure respect for international law in Palestine.

Only in this way can our governments refute accusations of double standards

โ€” Former diplomatsUrging accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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