DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh on Wednesday condemned Israel's renewed military aggression against the Gaza Strip, calling for UN action to end the war against innocent civilians.

The South Asian Muslim-majority nation, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, urged Tel Aviv to immediately stop all military operations.

“Bangladesh unequivocally denounces the Israeli occupation forces’ continued indiscriminate airstrikes on densely populated civilian areas, which have exacerbated human suffering and inflicted devastating consequences upon the defenseless Palestinian population,” according to the Foreign Ministry.

“The Government of Bangladesh urges Israel to immediately cease all military operations, exercise maximum restraint, and respect its obligations under international humanitarian law,” the statement continued.

Bangladesh urged the international community, particularly the UN, to take urgent and decisive measures to ensure the cessation of hostilities, protect civilian lives, and facilitate the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The statement also emphasized the need to resume dialogue on a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East, which it described as crucial for regional and global stability.

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine along the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Israel killed more than 400 Palestinians on Tuesday, shattering a fragile ceasefire brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the US in January. The Israeli military also killed at least 19 Palestinians in new overnight and dawn airstrikes Wednesday.​​​​​​​

Since October 2023, nearly 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and more than 112,000 have been injured in the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.​​​​​​​