Thirty nations led by the United Kingdom have recently called on Israel to stop blocking humanitarian aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip. But one EU country is missing from that list: the Czech Republic.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prague was not approached to join the declaration.

Eduard Hulicius (KDU-ČSL), deputy minister at the ministry, explained that the Czech Republic already aligns with similar positions previously adopted by the European Council and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas. These statements, he said, reflect a shared EU stance and express Czech support for humanitarian assistance and infrastructure restoration in Gaza.

Still, for former foreign minister Tomáš Petříček, that explanation doesn’t go far enough.

“This is a clear humanitarian signal. The Czech Republic could have – and should have – signed the declaration,” Petříček told Český rozhlas Plus. While he acknowledged that EU positions are binding for all member states, he argued that the situation in Gaza calls for stronger, more visible action.

Petříček pointed to escalating violence in Gaza, including reports of strikes near humanitarian aid centers. “If these attacks were deliberate, it’s deeply disturbing,” he said. “But even without confirmation, the fact remains: people waiting for food are being hurt or killed. Israel has now expanded evacuation zones, which cover roughly four-fifths of the Gaza Strip.”

Petříček also expressed concern that the lack of a long-term strategy only worsens the crisis. He urged both Israel and its allies to recognize the dangers of ongoing radicalization among Gaza’s youth and to provide a real future for Palestinians. “There’s no serious plan on the table. No long-term roadmap. And that’s feeding despair,” he said.

From the Ministry’s side, Hulicius defended the government’s position. He stressed that the Czech Republic has financially supported humanitarian aid, contributing tens of millions of crowns to help civilians in Gaza. However, he differentiated between the aid aspect and the broader security situation, which he described as highly complex.

“Some of those injured or killed at distribution sites may have died in stampedes, not attacks. And Hamas has created a special unit, Sharp Arrow, aimed at targeting those working to restore peace,” Hulicius said. “These facts rarely get mentioned, but they matter.”

At the same time, he acknowledged that even the Israeli military has admitted to opening fire near aid centers in some cases. “We must investigate every incident, especially if there’s evidence that civilians were deliberately targeted,” he said. He emphasized that the Czech Republic supports all international efforts to ensure accountability and transparency in such cases.

The former foreign minister believes Czech diplomacy has become too passive, especially in cases where international cooperation is essential. “This isn’t just about declarations. It’s about moral leadership and being on the right side of history,” he added.

Meanwhile, growing frustration is visible across the EU and beyond. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently joined the list of international leaders criticizing Israel for obstructing aid delivery, adding that direct channels established for humanitarian support are being blocked.

Macron says France will recognise Palestinian state in September

France will recognise Palestine as a state, President Emmanuel Macron has said.

Macron said in a post on X on Thursday that he will formalise the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“In keeping with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine,” Macron wrote.

“I will solemnly announce this at the United Nations General Assembly in September this year,” he added.

The move makes France the largest and arguably most influential country in Europe to move to recognise a Palestinian state, after European Union members Norway, Ireland and Spain indicated they would also begin the same process.

At least 142 countries out of the 193 members of the UN currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, but several powerful Western countries have refused to do so. They include the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

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