25 Nations Call for Immediate End to Gaza War, Slam Israel’s Aid Restrictions and Civilian Casualties
In an unprecedented joint move, 25 countries have issued a strongly worded statement urging an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza, calling out the Israeli government’s handling of humanitarian aid and accusing it of failing to meet obligations under international humanitarian law.
“We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now,” the statement begins, emphasizing the deteriorating humanitarian crisis.
“The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity.”
The joint declaration—signed by foreign ministers from 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 United Kingdom—urges Israel to immediately lift its restrictions on aid flow and allow humanitarian agencies to carry out life-saving operations safely and effectively.
The call to action came after a particularly bloody weekend. On Sunday, at least 81 Palestinians were killed and more than 150 were injured while attempting to access food supplies near the Zikim border crossing, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged firing near crowds, claiming it was a response to an “immediate threat,” though they questioned the reported death toll, citing an ongoing internal review.
International Condemnation and IDF Pushback
In response to the joint statement, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein flatly rejected the criticism, labeling it “disconnected from reality” and counterproductive. “Such statements send the wrong message to Hamas,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the militant group bears sole responsibility for the war’s continuation and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Marmorstein insisted that there is a credible ceasefire proposal on the table that Hamas continues to reject. “This statement fails to focus pressure where it belongs—on Hamas,” he said. “It is the only actor responsible for prolonging this war and the suffering on both sides.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee echoed Israel’s sentiment, calling the joint statement “disgusting,” and lambasting the 25 signatory countries for “pressuring Israel instead of the savages of Hamas.”
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The war, which began on October 7, 2023, following a deadly Hamas-led terror attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken, has now stretched into its 21st month. While many hostages have been released, Israel maintains that 50 remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive.
Since the war began, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened dramatically. The United Nations reports that more than 875 people have died trying to secure food aid in recent weeks. Sunday’s deadly incident marked one of the single worst episodes in that trend.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a dire warning, stating that the last remaining “lifelines” for Gaza’s civilians are collapsing. “Civilians must never be targeted,” he said. “The population in Gaza remains gravely undersupplied with necessities of life.”
The 25-nation statement echoes these concerns, slamming Israel’s tightly controlled aid model and what it calls the “inhumane killing of civilians, including children.” It highlights that more than 800 people have died simply while seeking food, which the signatories describe as “horrifying.”
Pressure Mounts for Ceasefire and Hostage Release
While the joint statement holds Israel accountable for obstructing aid, it also explicitly condemns Hamas for the continued captivity of hostages. “The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, continue to suffer terribly,” the signatories said. “We call for their immediate and unconditional release.”
The group contends that a “negotiated ceasefire” remains the most viable path forward, not only to free hostages but also to bring an end to the civilian suffering in Gaza.
The signatory nations expressed full support for ongoing mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt and warned that they are “prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the broader region.”
Ground Offensive Expands Amid Ceasefire Stalemate
Despite mounting international pressure, Israel appears determined to expand its military campaign. On Sunday, evacuation orders were extended to parts of central Gaza previously considered less impacted by the war. This includes the city of Deir al-Balah, where thousands of displaced civilians have sought shelter.
According to residents and the French news agency AFP, the area witnessed massive overnight artillery shelling, prompting fears of an impending ground invasion.
The Israeli military did not issue an immediate statement, but state-affiliated GLZ Radio confirmed that an IDF brigade—comprising engineering and armored forces—had launched its first major ground operation in Deir al-Balah since the war began.
The development has alarmed families of the remaining hostages. In a statement, the Hostages Families Forum demanded clarity from Israeli leadership about how the new offensive might affect the safety of the captives.
“No one will be able to claim they didn’t know what was at stake,” the group warned, stressing that the lives of hostages—both alive and deceased—are in danger.
A Growing Divide
Israel continues to bar foreign journalists from entering Gaza, making it difficult to independently verify casualty counts.
While Israel accuses Hamas of inflating the numbers and using civilians as human shields, the United Nations stands by the Gaza Health Ministry’s report of over 59,000 deaths since the war began, calling it the most credible data available under current constraints.
Adding to the chorus of moral and political appeals, Pope Leo XIV also renewed his plea for an end to the war during his Sunday Angelus prayer. “I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and a peaceful resolution to the conflict,” he said from Castel Gandolfo.
With growing global consensus calling for an urgent ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, the situation in Gaza remains at a perilous crossroads.
As Israel ramps up its ground offensive and international mediation struggles to find traction, the human toll continues to mount, with no clear resolution in sight.
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