Slovenia’s prime minister called Gaza’s humanitarian crisis
“inadmissible” and a threat to the EU's moral foundations, urging global action
against Israel.
Robert Golob emphasized Slovenia's early recognition of Palestine as an independent state last year and emphasized the nation's commitment to enforcing specific sanctions in response to the ongoing violence during a joint press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa in the capital Ljubljana.
“We have implemented these sanctions simply because of the fact that the situation in Gaza is inadmissible, untenable, and actually undermines the moral foundations and values on which the European Union and Slovenia, of course, are based,”
he said.
Golob called on the international community to take concrete steps to end the attacks and alleviate the humanitarian crisis affecting civilians of all ages in Gaza, saying:
“In our view, the perseverance of such a situation is something that the Western world should never permit.”
“There is no excuse of the ‘right to self-defense.’ There are no moral principles behind which one could hide,”
he added.
Although Costa recognized Israel's right to self-defense, he underlined that it must be used in conformity with humanitarian and international law.
He restated the European Council's long-standing demands for an immediate end to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and a ceasefire in Gaza.
“We continue to condemn clearly what is happening now in Gaza. We are very concerned about the humanitarian dimension of this tragedy,”
Costa said.
He also emphasized that the two-state solution is still the best practical way to bring about long-term peace and stability in the area.
Since October 2023, Israel has murdered around 63,600 Palestinians in Gaza. The famine-stricken enclave has been decimated by the military campaign.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were both wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza last November.
Because of its war on the enclave, Israel is also facing a genocide prosecution at the International Court of Justice.
What legal basis did Slovenia cite for early recognition of Palestine?
Slovenia emphasized Palestine’s right to statehood and
self-determination, drawing a parallel with Slovenia’s own struggle for
independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Slovenia consistently supports adherence to international law, including UN resolutions concerning the occupied Palestinian territories and the obligations of Israel as an occupying force. Slovenia has actively participated in UN processes, including requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s duties regarding humanitarian access and development aid for Palestinians.
Slovenia’s recognition aligns with growing international acceptance, as over 140 countries have recognized Palestine, and the UN General Assembly has passed resolutions supporting Palestinian statehood.