Amid the rising death toll and famine-related deaths, countries around the world are shifting their stance on Palestine, with ceasefire negotiations hanging in the balance.
At least 60,249 people have died and 147,089 more have been injured in Gaza, according to Al Jazeera, with the outlet also reporting: “Earlier, medics said the total hunger-related death toll since the start of the war stood at 154, including 89 children.”
Hamas has indicated that ceasefire negotiations may resume only after meaningful aid reaches Gaza’s starving population. But humanitarian efforts remain blocked. Aid trucks are often delayed or destroyed, and the breakdown of order on the ground means supplies rarely reach those most in need.
Inside Israel, public figures including former military and intelligence leaders have joined growing calls for an official inquiry into the October 7 attacks and for the war to end. However, air strikes and military operations have expanded beyond Gaza to include Lebanon and the occupied West Bank.
SMread: Activists demand transparency despite ship being cleared of arms
Countries shift toward recognition and restriction
According to BBC News, Canada intends on fully recognizing a Palestinian state soon, joining France and the UK in recent months. Prime Minister Mark Carney said, “The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable and it is rapidly deteriorating,” while stressing that recognition would depend on democratic reform, elections and the demilitarisation of Palestinian territories.
In the EU, Slovenia has announced a full arms embargo against Israel, and in the United States, growing congressional support seeks to halt further weapons transfers. In South Africa, civil society groups have raised alarm over a foreign vessel docked at Durban harbour, reportedly suspected of carrying explosives. The ship’s presence comes as South Africa maintains its accusation at the ICJ that Israel is committing genocide.
Deborah Ewing, member of the KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, said: “If we are saying at the ICJ that Israel is committing genocide, then we all have a legal obligation to make sure that nothing is done that makes us complicit in that.”
Activists are calling for broader port monitoring and urgent transparency, saying this is not just about one ship, but about consistency between international law and national action.
SMread: Israel’s Gaza aid policy causes mass starvation
The end of Oslo and the future of Palestine
According to BBC News, analysts argue the Oslo-style two-state solution is no longer viable. The expansion of settlements, the erosion of Palestinian sovereignty and the collapse of previous peace processes have made a lasting agreement difficult to imagine.
Human rights groups continue to warn that time is running out for any meaningful diplomatic solution. While international recognition slowly increases, the people of Gaza face starvation, loss and displacement with no end in sight. The world is shifting, but for many Palestinians, it is far too late.
Image via Al Jazeera.
