Belgium calls for ceasefire on all fronts on anniversary of Hamas terror attack
It is high time for a ceasefire on all fronts, Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo and Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib said on Monday, following the first anniversary of the Hamas terror attack on Israel. But a year into the conflict, an end to the war seems further away than ever.
On 7 October 2023, the extremist group Hamas attacked several Israeli villages. Nearly 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 Israelis kidnapped. Around 100 people are still missing. Israel responded with an offensive against Hamas in Gaza that has killed more than 40,000 people, mostly civilians.
"We remember the victims of last year’s horrific terrorist strike of Hamas against Israel. We reiterate our call for the release of all hostages," De Croo said on X. "Innocent civilians have suffered long enough and human rights need to be respected. It's high time for a ceasefire on all fronts."
"Our thoughts are with the hostages, the families and close ones of the victims," Foreign minister Hadja Lahbib reiterated on X. "Over the past year, tens of thousands of civilians have lost their lives. Belgium is mobilizing every day for a ceasefire, the release of the hostages, and peace negotiations leading to a two-state solution. International and humanitarian law must be respected."
No end in sight
But a peaceful end to the conflict seems less likely than ever. In recent weeks, Israel has shifted its gaze from Palestine to Lebanon, with a pager attack that injured thousands and bombings in Beirut that have killed hundreds, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The wider conflict has drawn in Iran, which has fired some two hundred rockets at Israel in retaliation for Nasrallah's death. In response, Israel has said it is preparing an attack on Iranian territory similar to those in Gaza and the Lebanese capital, Beirut.
Israel also appears unwilling to accept a ceasefire. On Monday, Israeli army chief Hayti Halevi described the conflict as a "long war". And Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that all of Israel's enemies would be defeated.
Alexander De Croo talks to the press during a visit to the city of Rafah in November 2023. © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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