Spain and 24 other countries sign a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

"We, the undersigned, unite with a simple and urgent message: the war in Gaza must end.

The suffering of Gaza's civilian population has reached new heights. The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fosters instability, and deprives Gazans of their human dignity. We condemn the trickle of aid and the inhumane deaths of civilians, including children, trying to meet their most basic needs for food and water. It is shocking that more than 800 Palestinians have died while trying to get help. The Israeli government's denial of 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 7 October 2023 continue to suffer terribly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire is the option that offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families.

We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the entry of aid, and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to safely and effectively carry out their life-saving mission.

We call on all parties to protect civilians and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Proposals to transfer the Palestinian population to a "humanitarian city" are totally unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

We strongly oppose any move towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The E1 settlement plan announced by the Israeli Civil Administration, if implemented, would split the Palestinian state in two, in blatant violation of international law, and seriously undermine the two-state solution. In parallel, settlement construction has accelerated throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while settler violence against Palestinians has escalated. This must end.

We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a common effort to end this terrible conflict through an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire. There is no point in further bloodshed.  We reaffirm our full support for the efforts of the US, Qatar and Egypt to achieve this.

We are ready to take further steps to support an immediate ceasefire and a political path to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the whole region.

This declaration has been signed by:

• The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
  
• European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management

Non official translation