UK, France and 23 other countries say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’

LONDON AP Twenty-five countries including Britain France and a host of European nations issued a joint declaration on Monday saying the war in Gaza must end now and Israel must comply with international law The foreign ministers of countries including Australia Canada and Japan announced the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths and condemned the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians including children seeking to meet their the greater part basic demands of water and food The Israeli ruling body s aid delivery model is dangerous fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity the declaration noted The Israeli regime s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law it added The signatories included the foreign ministers of about European countries as well as Canada Australia and New Zealand and the EU commissioner for equality preparedness and situation management The U S and Germany did not sign the declaration The signatories called for an immediate ceasefire adding they are prepared to take action to encouragement a political pathway to peace in the region Gaza s population of more than million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian problem now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory Countless people have been displaced multiple times Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct killing around people and taking others hostage Fifty remain in Gaza but fewer than half are thought to be alive Israel s military offensive has killed more than Palestinians according to Gaza s Strength Ministry Its count doesn t distinguish between militants and civilians but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children The ministry is part of the Hamas governing body but the U N and other international organizations see it as the the bulk reliable source of content on casualties Israel and Hamas have been holding ceasefire talks in Qatar Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that expanding Israel s military operations in Gaza will pressure Hamas in negotiations