WANA (August 13) – Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has criticized the joint statement issued by the UK, France, and Germany, which called for de-escalation in Gaza. Al-Sadr dismissed the statement, calling it “nothing but lies and sophistry,” and likened it to “throwing dust in the eyes.”

 

In his statement, al-Sadr emphasized the importance of supporting Palestine and expressed solidarity with Palestinian civilians. He urged these European countries to cease their comprehensive support—military, financial, and moral—for Israel. Al-Sadr suggested that instead of issuing weak joint statements, these nations should follow the example of certain European countries that have fully recognized the state of Palestine.

 

Al-Sadr also criticized the suppression of people and the rise of crimes in Western countries, calling on European nations to reveal their true political stances and stop acting in line with their own or American interests. He called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, warning that failure to do so would “mark the beginning of their end and expose the falsehood of their democracy and freedom.”

 

The European troika’s leaders—French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer—issued the joint statement without condemning the assassination of the late head of Hamas’ political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, or Fuad Shukr, a senior Hezbollah commander, nor did they address Israel’s role in escalating regional tensions.

 

The statement also called for the immediate resumption of negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli regime.