The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels. The Israeli government’s model of aid distribution is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives the people of Gaza of their human dignity. We condemn the piecemeal distribution of humanitarian aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, as they seek to meet their most basic needs for water and food. It is shocking that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid. The Israeli government’s refusal to provide essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.
The hostages cruelly held captive by Hamas since October 7, 2023, continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope for bringing them home and ending the agony of their families.
We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid and to urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively.
We call on all parties to protect civilians and to comply with the obligations of international humanitarian law. Proposals for the removal of the Palestinian population to a “humanitarian city” are totally unacceptable. The permanent forced displacement of a population is a violation of international humanitarian law.
We vehemently oppose any measures towards a territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan, announced by the Israeli Civil Administration, if implemented, would divide the Palestinian State in two, which would constitute a flagrant violation of international law and seriously undermine the two-state solution. Meanwhile, settlement construction has accelerated throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and settler violence against Palestinians has skyrocketed. This situation must end.
We call on the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to end this terrible conflict through an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire. More bloodshed serves no purpose. We reaffirm our full support for the efforts of the US, Qatar, and Egypt to achieve that goal.
We are prepared to take further measures to support an immediate ceasefire and a political path to achieve security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.
This declaration was signed by:
Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom;
The European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.