25 Nations Condemn Israel for Starving Gaza, Demand End to War – World news

Twenty-five countries including the UK, Japan, Australia, and several European states issued a joint statement Monday demanding Israel’s assault on Gaza “must end now.”

They condemned the unprecedented civilian suffering, calling attention to what they described as the “drip feeding” of aid and “inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking food and water.”

The statement described as “horrifying” the killing of more than 800 Palestinians in recent aid-seeking incidents, citing figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry and the UN human rights office.

“These deaths are a direct result of the Israeli government’s dangerous and dehumanizing approach to aid delivery,” the foreign ministers declared.

They condemned Israel for “denial of essential humanitarian assistance” and demanded it adhere to international humanitarian law.

Israel launched its deadly war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing over 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. More than half of the victims are women and children.

Conspicuously absent from the joint statement were the United States and Germany.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called the statement “disgusting” and accused the 25 nations of siding against Israel.

Germany’s foreign minister said he expressed concern to Israeli officials about the dire humanitarian situation and called for implementation of EU aid agreements.

More than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza face extreme hunger, displacement, and devastation, surviving on minimal aid that Israel controls.

Most of the food aid permitted by Israel is funneled through the US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Israeli troops have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians gathering at aid sites, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources.

Israel’s relentless 21-month war on Gaza has triggered global protests, intensified scrutiny, and resulted in an ICC arrest warrant for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite mounting global condemnation, Israeli occupation forces continue operations under the justification of targeting Hamas fighters in populated areas.

Israel claims it permits adequate food entry and accuses Hamas of seizing aid, though UN investigations found no evidence of systematic diversion.

The joint statement demanded an immediate ceasefire and signaled readiness to support a political resolution.

Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations appear stalled with no lasting agreement in sight.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told Parliament that a military solution is impossible.

“The next ceasefire must be the last ceasefire,” he said.