The Peruvian government has reportedly permitted its citizens to join Israeli forces in operations against Palestinians in Gaza, making it the first nation to do so in the current conflict.
As of October last year, approximately 27,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli military actions.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry sharply criticized Peru’s decision to allow its citizens’ involvement in these operations on Saturday. The criticism followed Peru’s expression of condolences over the death of a soldier with dual Peruvian-Israeli citizenship, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Peru’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the soldier’s death in a recent tweet, expressing regret over the loss of Yuval Lopez, a reservist in the Israeli Defense Forces.
The Palestinian Ministry urged Peru to reconsider its stance, suggesting the revocation of citizenship for those holding dual Israeli citizenship and participating in the conflict.
During these critical times, Palestine emphasized the importance of nations’ humanitarian and international law stances.
In a related development, the International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to implement measures preventing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The 17-judge bench, led by Court President Joan Donoghue, issued this directive from The Hague, Netherlands.
The Court also mandated Israel to facilitate urgent humanitarian aid and essential services in Gaza and report back within a month. This case was initiated by South Africa and received backing from Brazil, Pakistan, and other countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the case as “outrageous.” Conversely, Hamas lauded the ICJ’s decision, stating it helps in isolating Israel and highlighting its actions in Gaza.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed hope that this decision might catalyze diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, urging Israel to comply as a democratic and law-respecting state.
Responding to the ruling, Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant asserted Israel’s moral stance, implying no need for external guidance on such matters.
