As Israel's ground and air offensive against the Gaza Strip continues, the IMEU presents a collection of reactions from leaders and organizations around the world to the ongoing crisis.

"The world is horrified by the Israeli military offensive against the Palestinian people. A large number of the victims are women and children, which raises the issue of state-sponsored terrorism and (constitutes) a crime against humanity." - Legislative Commission of Ecuador, January 6, 2009



"Blocking access to people who are suffering and dying is also a breach of humanitarian law. I call on the Israeli authorities to respect their international obligations and ensure a 'humanitarian space' for the delivery of vital relief." - European Union Commissioner of Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel, January 5, 2009



"There can be no military solution to the crisis and through the ties of friendship that exist with the Israeli government, I must inform it that this is not the road that will lead to peace and security for its people." - Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, January 5, 2009



"We ask that the Israeli troops be withdrawn from Gaza Strip immediately. This is the most densely populated area in the world which is now exposed to operations on the ground as well as bombing from the air and sea. The attacks hit people who have nowhere to go, and a large number of them are civilians." - Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway, January 5, 2009


"[If Israel] continues its unjust offensive and continuously refuses to lift the blockade on the brotherly people of Palestine and the Gaza Strip, the House will call on the government to reconsider Jordanian-Israeli ties. This includes recalling Jordan's ambassador to Israel and requesting Israel's ambassador in Amman to leave the Kingdom." - Statement made by the parliament of Jordan, January 5, 2009



"The continuation of... the international community and the Security Council ignoring this situation is a very dangerous thing. We see that its not convening is a clear proof of failure in dealing with this huge crisis and allowing Israel an opportunity." - Arab League Chief Amr Moussa, January 4, 2009


"The (AU) Commission strongly condemns the ongoing air raids on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 27 December. This massive and disproportionate attack constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law and will further aggravate the suffering of the civilian population, which, as a result of the siege imposed by Israel, has been faced by shortages of food, medicine and fuel." - Statement of the African Union, December 30, 2008


"The Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip represent severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law as defined in the Geneva Conventions... these violations include: collective punishment, the targeting of civilians, and disproportionate military response." - Richard Falk, United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in the Occupied Territories, December 29, 2008


"The horrific death toll risks growing due to the unavailability of adequate medical care for the hundreds of injured. The health sector in Gaza lacks equipment, medicine and expertise at the best of times and has been further depleted due to the prolonged Israeli blockade. It is now completely overwhelmed and unable to cope with the large number of casualties." - Amnesty International, December 29, 2008



"The South African government finds the continued siege on Gaza unacceptable as it does not allow humanitarian relief supply such as medicine, food and water to reach the desperate people of Gaza." - South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fatima Hajaig, December 29, 2008


"I condemn in the strongest terms Israel's action in launching air strikes in Gaza against Hamas targets which have resulted in widespread civilian fatalities. These actions, far from ending the cycle of violence which has gripped both Gaza and southern Israel in recent weeks, are unfortunately only likely to escalate the situation and make the search for an effective ceasefire in Gaza even more difficult." - Ireland's Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin, December 28, 2008


"The inability of the hospitals to cope with a problem of this magnitude, if the situation continues unchanged, will result in a surge in preventable deaths from complications due to trauma. Civilians are paying the price for the prolonged blockade. The current escalation of the violence only compounds the health situation and unnecessarily exacerbates the fragile status of the civilians caught up in this conflict." - World Health Organization, December 29, 2008