Monday afternoon marked a historic display of international solidarity when over 20 countries, such as the UK, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and Japan, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate and sustained end to Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza by suspending hostilities and providing unimpeded humanitarian access.
The statement, issued through the foreign ministries of its signatory nations, expressed grave alarm at the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza Strip where over 58,000 Palestinians have reportedly died since October 2023 and infrastructure destroyed by repeated Israeli airstrikes and ground operations.
“We, the undersigned, call for an immediate ceasefire and protection of civilians,” read a statement signed by all signatories. We are deeply disturbed by the worsening humanitarian situation and urge all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and allow life-saving aid to reach civilians unimpeded.
The joint appeal represents one of the strongest multilateral diplomatic interventions yet in this ongoing conflict, which has garnered widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and Western publics alike. While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism, any military actions should remain proportional and should avoid targeting civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools or refugee camps.
Israel recently initiated a new offensive into central and southern Gaza, intensifying urban combat in Khan Younis and Rafah. According to OCHA’s estimates, nearly 2 million Palestinians (almost all the population of Gaza) have been displaced as their access to water, electricity, medical supplies and sanitation is severely limited.
“Enough is enough. Civilians on both sides have paid an immense cost in terms of lives lost and humanitarian corridors must open immediately to end this conflict,” British Foreign Secretary James Cartwright declared during a press conference held in London.
Though this statement did not directly include the United States–Israel’s closest ally–it reflects mounting international pressure for a ceasefire. While President Biden has continued supporting Israel’s military objectives, according to White House officials he has privately advocated restraint in recent diplomatic exchanges and may urge its implementation.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry quickly discredited the joint statement as being politically driven and disconnected from operational realities on the ground, underlining that their goal remains dismantling Hamas’ terrorist infrastructure completely.
Hamas officials welcomed the international call, writing in a Telegram post that they are ready to engage in ceasefire talks “under fair and neutral conditions”. Unfortunately, however, no formal negotiations have re-started and both sides remain entrenched in their positions.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch applauded the joint statement, yet called for stronger action such as suspending arms exports to Israel and international investigations into potential war crimes.
As Gaza enters its 10th month of war, Monday’s joint declaration may mark an important turning point in global diplomatic engagement. Whether or not this leads to an actual ceasefire remains to be determined; for many in Gaza however, urgency cannot be greater.