Twenty-five countries demand an "immediate" ceasefire in Gaza in the face of civilian suffering that "has surpassed all limits."
The signatories, the vast majority of whom are European, with the exception of Germany, threaten new measures if the bloodletting is not stopped.
LondonInternational call to stop the war in Gaza. Twenty-five countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, and Sweden—but not Germany—issued a call on Monday. joint declaration demanding an immediate end to the war in the Strip, using language of direct condemnation of the Israeli government's policies. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has surpassed all limits," states the text, released by the British Foreign Office, which harshly criticizes Israel's humanitarian aid distribution model, considering it "dangerous," "dehumanizing," and generating "instability."
This language reflects great frustration with the events in the Strip, and possibly also responds to internal pressure from the societies of the signatory countries, who see how, in practice, the killing continues without anything or anyone putting a stop to it. The United States, Israel's great ally, also does not subscribe to a diplomatic condemnation that further exposes the relative international isolation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The statement also denounces the "trickle" delivery of food aid and "the inhumane murder of civilians, including children, while they were trying to obtain water and food." According to the data collected in the document, More than 800 Palestinians have died in hunger queues trying to access basic supplies.The signatories demand that Israel comply with international humanitarian law and allow unrestricted aid flows so that the United Nations and NGOs can carry out their work "safely and effectively."
The text of the declaration also issues a veiled threat in the final paragraph: "We are prepared to take further steps to support an immediate ceasefire and a political path toward security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region." In other words, countries that have so far been very hesitant to recognize a Palestinian state could do so if Benjamin Netanyahu does not stop genocide. Ten days ago, on the State visit to the United Kingdom, Emmanuel Macron said it had to be done. Some of the countries that have supported the declaration, but, like Ireland or Spain, have already done so.
Likewise, and as usual, the statement calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, and emphasizes that "a negotiated truce is the best hope" to end the families' suffering.
The 25 countries – plus the EU Commissioner for Equality, Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hadja Lahbib – also flatly reject any proposal to forcibly displace the Palestinian population towards a "humanitarian city," and warn that this measure would constitute a serious violation of international law. In this regard, they criticize the plans for the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the Israeli civil administration's announcement of Plan E1, which would divide the Palestinian territory in two and "critically undermine" the two-state solution, which it has just belatedly declared in favor of.
"Settlement construction and settler violence against the Palestinian population has skyrocketed and this must stop," the signatory governments emphasize. They also express their support for the diplomatic efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to reach a permanent ceasefire that would serve as a starting point for a political solution to the conflict.
The declaration, signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as by the aforementioned European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, concludes with an appeal to the international community: "Further bloodshed is of no use. We must unite to end this terrible conflict and pave the way for peace and security for all."