Abu dhabi: Foreign ministers of many Western countries and EU, including France, Belgium and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Monday saying the war in Gaza "must end now" and Israel must comply with international law. The joint statement was signed by foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
According to Emirates News Agency, the statement emphasized the urgent need to end the hostilities in Gaza, highlighting the severe impact on civilians. The ministers expressed their concern over the humanitarian situation, condemning the restricted aid and the significant civilian casualties, including children. They called for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and criticized the current aid delivery model, which they claim exacerbates instability and undermines human dignity.
The ministers also addressed the ongoing hostage situation, condemning the detention by Hamas since 7 October 2023 and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. They emphasized that a negotiated ceasefire is crucial for resolving the crisis and alleviating the suffering of affected families.