U.K. leads international coalition calling for war to end in Gaza

The United Kingdom signed a statement on Monday with 27 other countries calling for an end to Israel’s war with the terror group Hamas and taking issue with Israel’s humanitarian aid model. Suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths, and over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid, the coalition alleged. The UK was joined by Australia, Canada, Iceland, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland. Another 19 European Union countries also joined the resolution, including France, Belgium, and Spain.

Israel’s aid methods are unstable and undignified, and the government must allow humanitarian groups into the region to do their life-saving work, the statement continued. The joint statement continued by condemning suggestions of moving civilians in Gaza to a “humanitarian city” or making demographic and territorial changes within the region. Permanent displacement of a people group would violate international law and undermine the two-state solution, the countries alleged.

The group also condemned the suffering of hostages held by Hamas since the terror group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, and called for the captives’ immediate and unconditional release. All parties must unite and end this conflict with an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, according to the statement. The undersigned countries are committed to securing peace for all people in the region and reaffirm efforts made by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to achieve this, the coalition said.

How has Israel responded? Israel rejected the coalition’s statement in a Monday response and emphasized Hamas’ responsibility in initiating and continuing the conflict. The joint statement is disconnected from reality, Israeli spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote Monday. Hamas is working to spread lies about Israel and deliberately increasing harm to civilians seeking humanitarian aid, Marmorstein said. The joint statement fails to recognize Hamas’ role and responsibility in prolonging the war and causing suffering on both sides, he said. It's best to avoid statements like this during sensitive and ongoing negotiations, Marmorstein added.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report on several people killed when a Catholic church in Gaza was hit during an Israeli military strike.