UK, Australia, France and other nations call for an immediate end to war in Gaza

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4 days ago

Twenty six countries, including Australia, the UK and France, have demanded an immediate end to the war in Gaza and called for Israel to lift aid restrictions.
The joint statement comes amid growing international concern over the number of deaths at aid sites in the enclave.
"We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now," the foreign ministers of Britain, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, Denmark and other countries said in a joint statement.
The statement also calls Israeli government's aid delivery model "dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity".
"We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region," it adds.
The statement also includes condemnation for Hamas's treatment of hostages held captive since the October 7 2023 attack.
"We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release," it said.
"A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families."
The statement has been signed by foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.