Countries Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
Twenty-five countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Canada, and France, have called for an “immediate” end to the war in Gaza, which is under siege by Israel. This joint declaration was published on Monday.
The Urgent Plea for Peace
In a statement, the foreign ministers of these nations emphasized their concern for the escalating suffering of civilians in Gaza. They wrote, “We gather to send a simple and urgent message: the war in Gaza must cease immediately.”
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Approximately two million Palestinians in Gaza are facing starvation due to over 21 months of conflict, triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023. The United Nations reported that more than 875 Palestinians have been killed while trying to obtain food since late May. Of these, 674 died near the sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the United States and Israel.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operations in late May following a complete humanitarian blockade imposed by Israel for over two months.
Criticism of Aid Distribution Model
The signatories criticized the aid distribution model established by the Israeli government, stating it “is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of their human dignity.”
Additional Demands
Besides calling for an immediate end to the war, these countries also demanded the release of hostages held “cruelly” by Hamas. They firmly opposed any initiative aiming to alter the territory or demographics in Palestinian-occupied lands and called for an end to colonization in those territories.
List of Signatory Countries
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Key Questions and Answers
- Who issued the statement? Twenty-five countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Canada, and France.
- What is the main concern? The escalating suffering of civilians in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict.
- What is criticized in the aid distribution model? The Israeli government’s model, which is deemed dangerous and deprives Gazans of their human dignity.
- What additional demands are made? The release of hostages held by Hamas and an end to colonization in Palestinian-occupied territories.
- Who signed the statement? In addition to the 25 countries, the European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, also signed the declaration.
