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UK, 24 other nations demand 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire' in Gaza
Palestinians mourn at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, where the victims of an Israeli strike which hit the Mustafa Hafez school, sheltering Palestinians displaced by the war, were brought, on July 3, 2025. AFP
Britain and 24 other Western nations on Monday (July 21) demanded an immediate end to the war in Gaza, declaring that the humanitarian crisis had 'reached new depths' and urging an 'immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire'.
In a joint statement, the group, which includes Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand and several EU countries, warned that 'further bloodshed serves no purpose' and pledged full support for the ceasefire efforts led by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.
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'We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to bring this terrible conflict to an end,' the statement said, adding that the signatories were 'prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire'.
The statement delivered a sharp rebuke to Israel over its handling of humanitarian aid, describing the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as 'dangerous' and accusing it of stripping Palestinians of 'human dignity'.
'We condemn 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 said. 'The Israeli government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.'
It called on Israel to 'immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid' and enable UN agencies and humanitarian organisations 'to do their life saving work safely and effectively'.
The UN reported last week that 875 Palestinians had been killed while trying to obtain food from GHF aid convoys. The GHF has largely supplanted traditional UN relief agencies in the besieged enclave.
The signatories also condemned Hamas's continued detention of hostages, calling for 'their immediate and unconditional release', and argued that a negotiated ceasefire 'offers the best hope of bringing them home'.
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The joint statement further warned against Israeli plans to relocate Palestinians into a designated 'humanitarian city', rejecting it as a form of 'permanent forced displacement' and a violation of international law.
'We strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,' the group said.
The statement was also signed by Hadja Lahbib, EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
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