UK, France and 23 other countries say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’

The statement’s signatories included the foreign ministers of about 20 European countries as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness, and crisis management, Hadja Lahbib.

By The Associated Press

Twenty-five countries, including Britain, France, and a host of European nations, issued a joint statement on Monday that puts more pressure on Israel, saying the war in Gaza “must end now” and Israel must comply with international law.

The foreign ministers of countries including Australia, Canada and Japan said, “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.”

They condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.”

The statement described as “horrifying” the deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Hamas.

“The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,” the statement said.

“The Israeli government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law,” it added.

Gaza’s population of more than 2 million Palestinians is in a humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times.

Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an American contractor backed by Israel.

The statement’s signatories included the foreign ministers of about 20 European countries as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, Hadja Lahbib.

Notably absent from the list were the U.S. and Germany.

The signatories called for an immediate ceasefire, adding they are prepared to take action to support a political pathway to peace in the region.

The statement from so many of Israel’s Western allies deepens its isolation 21 months into its war against Hamas, which has pushed Gaza to the brink of famine, sparked worldwide protests and led to an international arrest warrant against Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel rejects criticism of its wartime conduct, saying its forces have acted lawfully and blaming civilian deaths on Hamas because the terrorists operate in populated areas.

It says it has allowed enough food in to sustain Gaza and has proven that Hamas is stealing much of it.

Hamas triggered the war when terrorists stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive.

Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas. Its count doesn’t distinguish between terrorists and civilians.

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in ceasefire talks, but there appears to be no breakthrough, and it’s not clear whether any truce would bring the war to a lasting halt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel’s military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations.