BLED, Slovenia - European Council President Antonio Costa, Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar and Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon on Monday urged peace in Gaza during the Bled Strategic Forum, Slovenia's most prominent foreign policy gathering.

Fajon, who opened the two-day forum in the Alpine resort of Bled, said that a ceasefire in Gaza is "urgent", stressing that hostages must be released and humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow.

Costa underlined that while Israel has the right to self-defense, this cannot justify "the indiscriminate destruction of civilian infrastructure, or the collective punishment of an entire population". He called for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, a halt to illegal settlement activity and renewed international commitment to a two-state solution.

Musar noted that "through dealings with Gaza we reveal who we are... our handling of Gaza reflects the understanding of our humanity".

Fajon said the situation in Gaza was "beyond imagination every single day" because of "relentless bombings and deliberate starvation", reiterating that peace demands justice and that "a viable two-state solution is the only way forward".

Slovenia recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024 and currently serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Several dozen protesters also gathered in Bled, accusing Europe of complicity in the conflict. Some rowed onto Lake Bled, unfurling a banner showing EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, who attended the forum, shaking bloodied hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The forum will continue on Tuesday with panel discussions on new global partnerships.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Bled Strategic Forum, held under the theme "A Runaway World". Launched in 2006, the Forum is jointly organized by Slovenia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Centre for European Perspective. Over two decades, it has developed into the country's leading platform for dialogue on international and security issues, bringing together heads of state, government leaders, diplomats, scholars and business representatives to debate Europe's role in a rapidly changing global order.