Six European countries, including some of the continent's most important powers, condemned the publication of tenders for construction in the E1 area near Ma'ale Adumim. Three Western countries called the IDF's decision not to open a criminal investigation into the World Central Kitchen case "shameful." Meanwhile, the representative of the United States, Israel's closest ally, condemned the strike in Syria that led to a further escalation with Turkey.
Nearly three years after Hamas' October 7 massacre, Israel's international standing — at least in terms of its relations with Europe — may be worse than ever. While ties with countries in South America have warmed amid political shifts there, relations with some of the world's most important countries are strained and a series of statements in recent days has underscored this.
On Friday, Britain, Australia and Canada called the IDF's decision not to open a criminal investigation into the April 2024 airstrikes that hit a convoy of vehicles belonging to an aid organization in the Gaza Strip "shameful." Seven humanitarian aid workers from the U.S.-based World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed in the strikes.
WCK employees from all three countries were among those killed. "This decision is both too little, and too late. The victims of this incident and their families deserve justice and accountability, and we will continue to seek answers on their behalf. The World Central Kitchen attack is one of countless incidents in Gaza where there has been no accountability,," the three countries said in a joint statement.
On Thursday, the Australian government expressed "outrage" over the decision, while Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand called it "unacceptable." In London, the British Foreign Office said it was "appalled and angry" on behalf of the families of three British citizens killed in the strike. The Polish government, whose citizen was also killed in the strike, said Thursday that it was "very disappointed" and called on Israeli authorities to cooperate with Polish investigations into the incident.
The IDF said Wednesday that its forces mistakenly identified several people in the vehicles as armed Hamas operatives and that the WCK convoy had deviated from its pre-coordinated route. However, it concluded that the commanders' decisions did not raise reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct. Two officers were dismissed from their positions at the time and three others were reprimanded.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand. The Australian government was outraged by the IDF's decision
(Photo: Roni Rekomaa / LEHTIKUVA / AFP)
The Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "Israel extends its condolences to the families of the seven World Central Kitchen aid workers in April 2024 who tragically lost their lives under deeply regrettable circumstances. Israel immediately opened an examination of the incident, conducted by the General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM), and had identified operational failures and took significant command and disciplinary measures. The decision not to pursue criminal investigaion was made by Israel’s independent military prosecution authorities on the basis of strict professional and legal considerations. It is based on the legal threshold required for intiating criminal investigaion, which is when there is reasonable suspicion for criminal misconduct."
A tender issued by the Housing Ministry for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 area between Jerusalem and Ma'ale Adumim prompted a series of condemnations. In a joint statement, France, Germany, Britain, Italy, Norway and the Netherlands said: "The Israeli Government’s decision to publish construction tenders for the E1 settlement project is unacceptable. The international community has long opposed this settlement expansion, and has voiced their grave concerns privately and publicly. The E1 settlement will undermine the prospect of the two-state solution by driving a wedge through the West Bank and harming the territorial contiguity of the Palestinian Territories. At a time of grave instability in the West Bank with unprecedented levels of violence by settlers against civilians, and serious restrictions on the Palestinian economy, this decision is even more concerning."
E1 area
(Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband spoke with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar after the tenders were published and summoned Israel's chargé d'affaires in London to the Foreign Office. "I made clear to Sa'ar that Israel must immediately halt its E1 plans, withdraw the tender and stop all settlement expansion. Britain will not stand by and accept the destruction of the two-state solution," he said.
On Friday, Bloomberg reported that Miliband is considering a new sanctions regime against Israel that would include measures to prevent trade in goods and services with settlements, as well as expanding existing human rights sanctions to include the blocking of humanitarian aid. The British foreign secretary may also explicitly endorse a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice, which found that "the occupation is unlawful."
Sa'ar attacked Miliband's statement, calling it "completely entirely-sided." "The UK Government’s systematic policy of blaming only Israel while ignoring Palestinian extremism has already contributed to a massive wave of antisemitic hatred and attacks against the British Jewish community. Continuing down this path will only make the situation worse. The UK Government’s decision to damage the relationship between our countries is deeply unfortunate. But Israel will not be a passive victim of this policy. Israel will defend its rights, its interests and its people.”
Ed Miliband is considering a new sanctions regime against Israel
(Photo: REUTERS/Jack Taylor)
Another joint statement against construction in E1 was issued on Friday, this time by Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The statement said the countries condemned "Israel's illegal settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory."
In addition, the Palestinian Authority and 11 Arab and Muslim countries — Qatar, Jordan, Algeria, Indonesia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Turkey — issued a joint statement condemning "Israeli airstrikes against the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in northwestern Syria." According to the statement, the strikes constitute a dangerous escalation and a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty. The international community, it said, must adopt a firm, clear and principled position against the ongoing aggression against Syria.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, the strike took place because Syria "violated the status quo and allowed Turkish troops to deploy at the air force base near Aleppo." The unusual strike also prompted an unusually strong US condemnation. US envoy to Syria and Turkey Tom Barrack said such strikes "might in the near future increase Turkish presence at that base" and said Turkey had not been warned in advance and could therefore have attacked Israel in response.
Tom Barrack. Claimed that Turkey could have attacked Israel in response to the attack in Syria
(Photo: anwar amro / AFP)
The deterioration in relations with Turkey came almost immediately. Netanyahu told them "Don't," after which Turkey announced that it had issued an arrest warrant and "red notice" against the prime minister, who called Erdogan an "antisemitic dictator." On Friday evening, however, the Turkish presidency said that "the Netanyahu government's efforts to portray Turkey as a new threat are part of an election strategy."