Belize suspends diplomatic ties with Israel, renews call for ‘immediate ceasefire’

Belize suspends diplomatic ties with Israel, renews call for ‘immediate ceasefire’

Belize’s government has suspended diplomatic ties with Israel and reiterated its call for an “immediate ceasefire” to stop the violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

The Central American nation said it was also “deeply disturbed” by the ongoing conflict and cited the need to support international efforts for a political solution.

“Belize expresses its strong condemnation of any acts of violence and terror perpetrated against civilians, and calls upon all sides to exercise maximum restraint to avoid the loss of innocent lives,” the statement continued.

Belize is the latest country to suspend its ties with Israel. This follows a number of countries, including Brazil, Turkey, Qatar, and Bahrain, all expressing alarm over the situation in the Palestinian territories.

The Belizean government expressed its deep concern not only about the situation in Gaza and the West Bank but also all other areas of conflict in the Middle East, and reaffirmed its belief that “respect for fundamental human rights and international law should be the basis for a lasting solution to the conflict.”

Finally, the statement reaffirmed Belize’s pledge of “unwavering loyalty to Palestine,” in light of the long standing solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and a durable peace in the region.