Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon and her Portuguese counterpart João Gomes Cravinho began their joint visit to Israel with a trilateral meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, during which Minister Fajon first expressed her satisfaction with the agreed four-day ceasefire, which went into effect at 6 a.m. CET the same day. "I hope that all hostages held by Hamas will be released and that the humanitarian truces will lead to a lasting ceasefire. The civilian population on both sides of this conflict is paying a high price. Victims are victims, regardless of their nationality or religion. Each victim is one too many. This tragedy must end", Minister Fajon stressed at the talks.

Earlier in the day, the ministers visited Kibbutz Kfar Aza in southern Israel – once home to some 900 people – where Hamas fighters massacred its residents on 7 October 2023. The kibbutz was destroyed and the surviving residents were moved to a hotel in Israel. "The visit to the kibbutz was shocking. I understand the fear and anger, and I strongly condemn violence and all forms of extremism. But nothing can justify the starving and killing of people and the attacks on hospitals, depriving them of electricity and medicines. The images from Gaza are extremely distressing and totally unacceptable. Children do not start wars", said the Minister during her visit to the kibbutz.

In her talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister Cohen, Minister Fajon reiterated the importance of protecting civilians throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories, and the need to deliver supplies to the people of Gaza. "I call on Israel to respect international humanitarian law. What we need is a political solution, not a military one. We will not support the forced displacement of the people of Gaza or the shrinking of the enclave. Nor will we accept a separate solution for Gaza and the West Bank, in accordance with UN resolutions," she stressed.

In Tel Aviv, the Slovenian and Portuguese foreign ministers also met with Israeli President Yitzhak Herzog. They expressed their deep regret that so much suffering had already been caused by this unresolved issue in the Middle East. Minister Fajon reiterated the need to find a political solution as soon as possible: "The only guarantee of security for Israelis is a peace process that leads to the recognition of a Palestinian state. Slovenia is ready to actively work towards a two-state solution and lasting peace in the Middle East, also as a member of the UN Security Council".

After their meeting with Israeli officials, Ministers Fajon and Cravinho travelled to Ramallah in the West Bank, where they met with their Palestinian counterpart, Riyad al-Maliki, and Prime Minister Mohamed Shteyeh. Minister Fajon welcomed the Qatari-brokered temporary ceasefire deal, as well as the opening of humanitarian corridors and the entry of aid trucks into Gaza. She expressed concern over the violence suffered by the people in Gaza and the West Bank: "In my view, these are gross violations of international humanitarian law. The people here live in terrible conditions, in constant fear and deprivation”.

Talking to the Palestinian officials about the political solution to which Slovenia is committed, Fajon stated: "As for the future of a Palestinian state, my message is clear: it must be based on a two-state model that will ensure lasting peace in the Middle East. It is important that all partners are involved in the talks, that is the Arab countries, the USA, the EU, in order to develop a concrete peace plan that will lead to a peace conference and the recognition of a Palestinian state”.

On Saturday, Fajon and Cravinho will hold talks in Egypt and Jordan, where they will call for stronger involvement from Arab countries and the EU in finding a two-state solution for the region. This requires an empowered Palestinian Authority.