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Two years have passed since the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on Israel, in which 1,200 innocent people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. As a result of Israel's relentless offensive, Gaza has been completely destroyed. More than 65,000 civilians have been killed, including 18,000 children.

Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, in which more than 1,000 Israelis were killed, was a crime that should not be minimized or underestimated.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon attended the opening of the general debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. On the same day, she also delivered addresses at two Security Council meetings concerning Ukraine and the Middle East. "In both cases, there is aggression – by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and by Israel in Gaza – directed against significantly smaller countries. This must end," she emphasised.

At the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen, under the Danish EU Presidency, ministers addressed the decision of the United States to deny visas to the Palestinian delegation to the UN General Assembly in September. Minister Fajon urged her EU counterparts to take measures against Israel, either by consensus or, if necessary, by qualified majority.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain strongly condemn the most recent Israeli offensive launched in the Strip and the announcement to establish a permanent presence in Gaza City.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain strongly condemn the recent announcement by the Government of Israel of the intensification of the occupation and the military offensive, including in Gaza city. This decision will only deepen the humanitarian crisis and further endanger the remaining hostages’ lives. This operation will lead to an unacceptable high toll of deaths and the forced displacement of nearly one million Palestinian civilians.

At the initiative of Prime Minister Robert Golob, the Government today confirmed the decision prohibiting the exporting and transit of military weapons and equipment from or through the Republic of Slovenia to Israel, and importing from Israel to Slovenia.

Speaking at the UN high-level conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution at the UN headquarters in New York, Tanja Fajon, Slovenia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, emphasised the need for immediate action. “The only way to achieve peace in the Middle East is to implement the two-state solution: Israel and Palestine.”

Minister Tanja Fajon participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council to discuss the current situation in the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iran, Israel and Gaza, Russian aggression against Ukraine, China and European security. The Minister also presented the joint contribution of the MED9 Group towards the preparation of the New Pact for the Mediterranean, which had been led by Slovenia.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon took part in an extraordinary informal EU foreign ministers meeting by video conference to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, particularly in light of the recent escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran.
"Together, we must call for an immediate end to military conflict and for the protection of civilians. Respect for the UN Charter is an absolute obligation for all States."

"We share the views of all leaders who have expressed serious concern over Israel’s attacks on Iran. Israel’s attacks on Iran represent an escalation in the already tense and difficult situation in the Middle East and lead nowhere.

At the regular meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Minister Tanja Fajon emphasized that "business as usual" with the Israeli government, which is bombing hospitals, destroying schools and turning refugee camps into dust, is no longer possible: "As humans, we must ask ourselves how long we will continue to watch the catastrophe in Gaza unfold before our eyes." The ministers also discussed the peace negotiations in Ukraine and the situation in Syria.

Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.

Foreign ministers and their guests met in Warsaw during Poland's six-month presidency of the EU. There was ample opportunity for frank discussions on the world's key challenges, including the importance of closer foreign and security policy cooperation with the UK, efforts to achieve an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine and further dialogue with the US in the light of the first 100 days of America First.

Slovenia presented its statement before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, emphasising Israel's obligation to facilitate emergency humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, grounded in the principles of respect for human rights, adherence to international humanitarian law and its obligations as a UN Member State.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia fully supports the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom (E3) on April 23, 2025, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

At the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Minister Tanja Fajon called for more decisive action to bring about a ceasefire and a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, and for the return of more than 19,000 abducted Ukrainian children: “These are war crimes and clear violations of international law. This must remain a humanitarian priority and part of the peace negotiations.”

In Antalya, State Secretary Melita Gabrič attended the extended format meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-League of Arab States Gaza Contact Group. The meeting hosted by Türkiye was a follow-up to the meetings of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and is also attended by representatives of Norway, Ireland, Spain and the EU.

Slovenia is gravely concerned about the decision to completely block humanitarian aid access to Gaza. This could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe, severely affecting the civilian population already suffering from the conflict. Such actions are in clear violation of international law, particularly international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The Republic of Slovenia sees the proposals on the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, coupled with the unilateral "redevelopment" of the territory, as unacceptable. Such proposals constitute a flagrant violation of international law.