A Press Release Issued by the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs Regarding Slovakia's Joining the Danish Initiative to Provide Healthcare in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

SadaNews - With the signing of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Blanár, Slovakia has joined the joint statement initiated by the Kingdom of Denmark in response to the ongoing deterioration of the humanitarian situation and the difficulties in accessing healthcare in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The Slovak Foreign Minister, Juraj Blanár, announced in a statement commenting on this matter, "The Slovak Republic continuously calls for adherence to international law and international humanitarian law regarding the catastrophic situation in the Gaza Strip. The suffering of civilians is absolutely unacceptable, and therefore, with this announcement, we commit to continue supporting international joint efforts to relieve the suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip."

He also stated that the Slovak Republic will continue to provide humanitarian assistance, including medical equipment, in addition to medical evacuations for patients from the Gaza Strip. Slovakia was among the first countries in the world to take the initiative to assist children suffering from chronic diseases from Gaza by evacuating them to European countries that provide them with the necessary treatment. In cooperation with the European Union and the World Health Organization, the Slovak Republic successfully conducted seven such medical evacuations, with preparations for more underway.

The joint statement, signed by 24 other ministers including Juraj Blanár, the Slovak Foreign Minister, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kallasova, along with European commissioners, calls on the Israeli government to allow medical evacuations of patients from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to enable them to access healthcare in the Palestinian territories. It also calls for lifting the restrictions on medicines and medical equipment in Gaza, in accordance with the obligations under international law, as well as enabling medical teams to operate and ensuring their protection.