In a rare joint rebuke, 25 countries and the EU on Monday condemned Israel’s conduct in Gaza, calling it “inhumane” and urging an immediate end to the war.
The foreign ministers, joined by the EU Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, said Gaza’s civilian suffering had plunged to “new depths” under Israeli siege. They criticised Israel’s restrictive aid policies, saying its “drip feeding of aid” fuels chaos and strips Gazans of basic dignity.
More than 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food or water since late May, the statement said, calling the figure “horrifying.” The governments accused Israel of blocking vital humanitarian relief and warned this violates international humanitarian law.
Signatories included the UK, Australia, Japan, and European countries such as France, Ireland, and Spain. They also condemned Hamas’ October 7 attack and demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
The statement denounced proposals to forcibly relocate Palestinians to a so-called “humanitarian city,” calling such plans a grave breach of international law. “Permanent forced displacement,” the ministers said, “is a violation of international humanitarian law and cannot be tolerated.”
They urged Israel to lift all restrictions on aid deliveries and allow UN agencies and NGOs to operate safely in Gaza. Finally, the countries voiced full support for ongoing mediation efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to secure a lasting ceasefire.
