LONDON: The United Kingdom, along with 27 other countries, has issued a strong call for an immediate end to the conflict in Gaza, stating that civilian suffering has reached unprecedented levels.
In a joint statement, the group criticized Israel’s current approach to aid delivery as unsafe and inadequate. They condemned what they described as the “drip feeding” of humanitarian assistance and the “inhumane killing” of civilians attempting to access basic necessities such as food and water, BBC reported.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire while waiting for food over the weekend, and 19 others died from hunger-related causes.
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed the statement, calling it out of touch with the situation on the ground and accused it of sending a harmful message to Hamas.
The ministry claimed Hamas is spreading misinformation and deliberately obstructing aid efforts instead of engaging in ceasefire talks or hostage negotiations.
While many nations have criticized Israel’s military tactics during the 21-month conflict with Hamas, this latest declaration stands out for its directness, according to BBC.
The statement, signed by foreign ministers from countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and Switzerland, opens with a clear demand: “The war in Gaza must end now.”
It further states that the Israeli government’s aid delivery system is worsening instability and denying dignity to the people of Gaza. The signatories expressed outrage that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid, including children.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaking in Parliament, described the situation in Gaza as a “litany of horrors,” citing strikes that have killed children suffering from starvation and desperation.
(Inputs from BBC)
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