U.K., France, 23 other countries say war in Gaza ‘must end now'
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 Gaza's Health Ministry and the UN human rights office.
'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 catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited 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. Since the group's operations began in late May, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in shootings by Israeli soldiers while on roads heading to the sites, according to witnesses and health officials.
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 militants operate in populated areas.
It says it has allowed enough food in to sustain Gaza and accuses Hamas of siphoning much of it off. The United Nations says there is no evidence for widespread diversion of humanitarian aid.
Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 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 Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count doesn't distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organisations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
US-EU trade deal: A ‘lose-lose' pact for both America and European Union. Here's why
The White House is trumpeting its new trade deal with the European Union, following a similar agreement with Japan, as a great victory. Both pacts impose tariffs of 15% on most exports to the US, along with other concessions — on the face of it, lifting the threat of open-ended trade war and reaffirming US dominance. Financial markets advanced on the news. In truth, there's nothing to celebrate. Both deals are lose-lose for all involved. The best that can be hoped for is that the administration now moves on to other priorities before more damage is done. In narrow economic terms, the claim that the US has emerged the winner from both sets of negotiations is simply false. Tariffs are taxes. Before long, American consumers will pay most if not all of the increase in costs. And the problem isn't just that imports will be more expensive. US producers of rival products will face less pressure to compete and innovate, and they will raise their prices as well. In due course, these forces will depress US living standards. Always remember, the biggest loser from tariffs is invariably the country imposing them. Such costs might be manageable over the long term, as long as the agreements draw a line under recent quarrels over trade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who struck the deal with the US over the weekend, emphasized this point in justifying the bloc's surrender to American demands — lauding the agreement for restoring stability and predictability for consumers and producers alike. If only. For a start, both pacts, like the one struck earlier with the UK, are better seen as framework agreements than finished deals. For example, what does Japan's commitment to finance a US investment fund managed by the White House actually entail? Hard to say. (It's been portrayed as a $550 billion 'signing bonus.' Japanese officials probably don't see it that way.) Under the US-EU deal, some European goods will be given tariff-free access to the US. Which ones? Nobody knows. In both cases, many important details are yet to be finalized. Meanwhile, citizens in Japan and Europe have seen their governments humbled, which makes mounting political opposition and uncertainty all too likely. If or when these particular deals are concluded, there'll be new ones to strike — and the contested issues aren't confined to trade policy. If in the future the White House aims to settle all such disputes by reviving the threat of punitive tariffs or tacitly threatening to withhold cooperation on security, von der Leyen's vision of stability and predictability will be confirmed as a mirage. Most dangerously, the administration's supposed triumphs may now affirm its belief that the US is powerful enough to demand submission, as opposed to genuine partnership, from countries it once saw as friends. If so, heightened instability — lethal to long-term planning, investment and global cooperation across the board — won't be just a passing phase. Strength through disruption is a self-defeating strategy. Sooner or later, that will become painfully obvious. The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs. More stories like this are available on
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
18 minutes ago
- First Post
As Israel continues Gaza offensive, momentum grows for Palestine State recognition: 15-nation bloc give fresh call
France, UK lead growing Western push for Palestinian statehood as 15 nations urge global recognition amid ongoing Gaza conflict, according to a report read more A man holds a placard reading "Free Palestine" during a demonstration, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, France, June 9, 2025. File Image/Reuters A day after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September, unless Israel takes significant steps in Gaza, France and 14 other Western nations called on countries worldwide to follow suit, according to a France 24 report, citing France's top diplomat on Wednesday. The joint call came late Tuesday in a statement by the foreign ministers of 15 countries, issued after a conference in New York co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The meeting aimed to revive efforts toward a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, added the report. 'In New York, together with 14 other countries, France is issuing a collective appeal: we express our desire to recognise the State of Palestine and invite those who have not yet done so to join us,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot wrote on X. The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain. President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that France will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September, a move that drew strong criticism from both Israel and the United States. France is now seeking to build momentum around the push for formal Palestinian statehood. On Tuesday, Starmer declared that Britain will also recognise the State of Palestine in September—unless Israel takes a series of 'substantive steps,' including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. If carried out, the coordinated moves by Paris and London would make France and the UK the first G7 countries to formally recognise a Palestinian state. In a joint statement, the 15 participating nations reaffirmed their 'unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution.' Among them, nine countries that have not yet recognised Palestine—including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand — expressed a willingness or openness to do so, reported France 24. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Seventeen countries, along with the European Union and the Arab League, also joined calls during the conference for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control of Gaza, as part of efforts to end the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory, added the report. With inputs from agencies
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
18 minutes ago
- First Post
Brad Pitt's 'F1' co-star Javier Bardem on Gaza genocide: 'Israel kills, the U.S. funds it, and Europe support it'
The actor also said, 'It is illegal to continue associating with Israel based on the continued violation of all possible human rights by the Zionist state.' read more Brad Pitt's 'F1' co-star Javier Bardem has spoken about the genocide in Gaza and shared a post on his Instagram account. The actor captioned it- 'MURDERING ZIONISTS !!! Break ALL ties with the genocidal state NOW! European leaders must be tried as accomplices by their inaction and consent. It is illegal to continue associating with Israel based on the continued violation of all possible human rights by the Zionist state. SANCTUARY ACTIONS ON ISRAEL NOW!! ZIONIST MURDERERS!!! STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sever ALL relations with the genocidal state NOW! European leaders must be tried as accomplices for their inaction and complicity. It is illegal to remain associated with Israel given the ongoing violation of every possible human right by the Zionist state. SANCTION ISRAEL NOW!!' Javier Bardem was no longer comfortable being silent on Gaza. The Spanish actor spoke out about the Israeli-Hamas conflict upon accepting an award at the San Sebastian Film Festival last week. In his nuanced remarks, Bardem condemned the Hamas attacks as well as the 'massive punishment that the Palestinian population is enduring.' He called for immediate cease-fire, Hamas' release of hostages and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Hamas leaders — some of whom are now dead — who ordered the Oct. 7 attacks to be judged by the International Criminal Court. In an interview with The Associated Press, Bardem explained why he chose to speak out. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I believe that we can and must help bring peace. If we take a different approach, then we will get different results,' Bardem told the AP, speaking prior to Iran's attack on Israel Tuesday. 'The security and prosperity of Israel and the health and future of a free Palestine will only be possible through a culture of peace, coexistence and respect.' Israel's offensive has already killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced the vast majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents and destroyed much of the impoverished territory. Palestinian militants are still holding some 110 hostages captured in the Oct. 7 attack that started the war, in which they killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Around a third of the 110 are already dead, according to Israeli authorities. With added inputs from agencies
