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On 21 July 2025, a coalition of 25 countries, including France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging Israel to comply with international humanitarian law.
🛑 Humanitarian Concerns
The statement condemned:
- The “drip feeding” of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking food and water
- Israel’s aid delivery model, described as “dangerous” and “depriving Gazans of human dignity”
- The denial of essential humanitarian assistance, deemed “unacceptable” under international law
Since January 2025, Israel has barred UNRWA, the primary UN agency for Palestinian aid, from operating in Gaza, citing alleged ties to Hamas. Aid distribution was transferred to the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has faced criticism for its inexperience and deadly incidents at distribution sites.
⚔️ Conflict Background
The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. As of July 2025:
- 50 hostages remain in Gaza; 20 are believed to be alive
- Israel’s offensive has killed over 59,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry
- 850 Israeli soldiers have died
🕊️ Diplomatic Efforts and Military Developments
Ceasefire talks in Qatar have yet to yield results. On the same day as the joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a ground operation in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, without disclosing its objectives.
The signatories expressed readiness to support a political pathway to peace, opposing any proposals for forced displacement or the creation of “humanitarian cities” for Palestinians, which they warned would violate international law.
You can read the full statement via Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and additional coverage from euronews.com.
