A coalition of 25 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and several European nations, has jointly called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza, citing catastrophic humanitarian consequences and an alarming rise in civilian casualties.
In a strongly-worded statement released on Monday, the foreign ministers condemned Israel’s restrictive aid policies and the increasing civilian death toll, particularly among those seeking basic necessities such as water and food.
“The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. The denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” the ministers declared.
The ministers described the deaths of over 800 Palestinians attempting to access aid as “horrifying,” referencing figures from the Gaza Health Ministry and the United Nations. They criticized Israel’s “drip feeding” of humanitarian assistance, calling it inhumane and inadequate for the over 2 million displaced and besieged residents of Gaza.
Although the United States and Germany did not sign the joint statement, Germany’s Foreign Minister separately voiced concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart.
The war, now in its 21st month, began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas launched a deadly surprise attack in southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Israel’s military response has since resulted in over 59,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While the ministry is operated by Hamas and does not differentiate between militants and civilians, international bodies continue to regard its casualty figures as the most credible. Over half of the reported deaths are said to be women and children.
Despite mounting international condemnation, including calls from allies for accountability and change in strategy, Israel has defended its military actions, maintaining they comply with international law. It has also rejected allegations of deliberately restricting humanitarian aid, instead accusing Hamas of endangering civilians by operating within populated areas. The United Nations, however, contests Israel’s claims, citing no verifiable evidence of large-scale aid diversion by Hamas.
The aid currently reaching Gaza is mainly funneled through the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. However, Palestinian health officials and eyewitnesses report that many civilians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access the limited supplies.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the urgent need for a political solution.
“There is no military solution,” Lammy said in Parliament. “The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire.”
The joint statement marks a significant escalation in international pressure on Israel, coming amid global protests, a pending United Nations ceasefire vote, and an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As calls for an end to hostilities grow louder, the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with no immediate end to the conflict in sight.
