Skopje, 30 July 2025 (MIA) – Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani said that North Macedonia, though a small country, cannot stay immune to global trends regarding the situation in Gaza, especially if they become a matter of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy.  

"The whole world is mobilising because the situation in Gaza is alarming. No matter how small a country we are, we cannot stay immune to this trend, especially if it becomes a matter of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, we will need to follow their step," Minister Murtezani said in response to a reporter's question after Wednesday's joint press conference with the Irish Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne. 

Byrne pointed out that the situation in Gaza is "unbearable, it's catastrophic, and requires an urgent humanitarian assistance". He noted that Ireland, along with Spain and Norway, recognized Palestine over a year ago, adding that it is important to use the leverage that the EU has to persuade other member states that the humanitarian situation is just so bad that it requires urgent action. 

"We have seen significant concern as to what is going on in Palestine, from us, and certainly we've been longstanding advocates for the people of Palestine, but also from other countries who maybe traditionally took a different perspective. But the situation is urgent, and it does require urgent help. We want to support the EU to go as far as we can in using the leverage that the EU has, and also to talk to other member states as well who have a different perspective, and to understand their perspective but to persuade them that the humanitarian situation is just so bad that it does require urgent action," said Byrne.  

The situation in Gaza in July 2025 has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions, with over two million people facing starvation, and the World Health Organization warning that malnutrition rates have reached alarming levels. 

Photo: MIA archive