Belize’s Suspension of Diplomatic Ties with Israel Remains in Effect

The Israeli Defense Forces have completed an investigation into the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza – all innocent lives that were ended by Israeli drone strikes on Monday. The seven aid workers were on an aid convoy operated by World Central Kitchen. The Israeli military has called the incident a grave mistake and said it had dismissed two officers and reprimanded three others for their roles in the incident. The disciplinary actions were on the basis that the officers had mishandled critical information and had violated the Israeli army’s rules of engagement. The U.N. Security Council, late last month called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and the Caribbean Community expressed its deep distress at the situation in Gaza in February. Today, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francis Fonseca, told us that the Belize Government’s lifting of diplomatic ties with Israel will remain in effect for now.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“It’s an absolute aggression that we see taking place in Gaza. It’s an absolute horror. What is taking place? It’s a humanitarian crisis. There’s a shortage of food shortage of water. People are being indiscriminately killed. So it’s a very, tragic situation, and we certainly welcome, as you pointed out, the latest, vote resolution passed by the U.N Security Council, calling for an immediate ceasefire, calling for unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, calling for the release of all hostages. These are things that Belize has been calling for, months, for many months. We have been ahead of the U.N Security Council, if you like. So it’s an absolute travesty what is taking place there and we certainly hope that this issue can be resolved with a sense of urgency. For us in Belize, we have always maintained that a two-state solution is the only path to a sustainable, long, permanent, peaceful resolution to this matter.”

 

Marion Ali

“So the ban or the suspension of diplomatic ties that we placed last year, that will remain in effect indefinitely?

 

Francis Fonseca

“It was a suspension that was mandated by the Cabinet. If it is to be lifted, it will have to be the Cabinet that lifts it. So we’re not at that point yet and certainly, based on what is taking place now, as you pointed out, this absolute tragedy with the aid workers who were killed, the food aid workers who were killed, certainly there are no signs that, at this point, that suspension should be lifted but certainly that will be a decision for the Cabinet.”