Slovenia calls for humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Slovenia on Monday called for a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza to facilitate the delivery of aid.

“Conflicts should not spread to the region. We call on everyone to stop the conflict and the killing of civilians. Hundreds of water and food trucks are needed daily. In this case, this should be our biggest concern,” Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon told the EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg.

She said action should be taken within the framework of international humanitarian law, adding that Slovenia supports every effort to achieve peace.

“The message of the EU should be to ensure a humanitarian cease-fire and not to allow the killing of any more civilians. A great human tragedy is taking place ... Strong military interventions have serious consequences for civilians. More than 1 million people in Gaza have nowhere to go. At this point, it is seen how important the humanitarian cease-fire is,” said Fajon.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army continues to target Gaza with intensive airstrikes that have destroyed entire neighborhoods, killing 5,087 Palestinians, including 2,055 children and 1,119 women, and injuring 15,273, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry said over 1,500 people are still trapped under the rubble.