Twenty-Five Nations Urge Immediate End to Gaza Conflict, Call for Increased Aid Access

A group of 25 countries has released a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and urging Israel to allow greater access for humanitarian aid. The statement, signed by the foreign ministers of nations including Australia, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as having reached new depths and criticized Israel's aid delivery model as dangerous and insufficient.

The signatories asserted that Israel's denial of essential assistance to civilians is unacceptable and called on the country to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The statement also condemned Hamas for refusing to release Israeli hostages and emphasized that a negotiated ceasefire is the best hope for ending the suffering of both sides.

The call for action followed a recent incident in which at least 81 Palestinians were killed and 150 injured while attempting to access food, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The Israel Defense Forces stated that troops fired near crowds to address an immediate threat and noted that a review is ongoing, with preliminary findings suggesting casualty figures may differ from those reported.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein rejected the joint statement, saying it was "disconnected from reality" and failed to recognize Hamas's responsibility for prolonging the conflict. He maintained that Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides, and that there is a concrete proposal for a ceasefire which Hamas has refused to accept.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm at the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, stating that the "last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing" and condemning violence against civilians seeking aid. The UN has reported that at least 875 people have been killed in recent weeks while trying to obtain food aid.

The 25 countries urged Israel to immediately lift restrictions on aid and enable humanitarian organizations to operate safely. They also called for all parties to protect civilians and uphold international law, and expressed readiness to support further actions toward a ceasefire and a political solution. Pope Leo XIV also renewed his call for an immediate end to the conflict and a peaceful resolution.