European leaders call for end to war in Gaza

Leaders of Britain, France and Germany said the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in the Gaza Strip 'must end now', as the war-ravaged Palestinian territory faces a deepening crisis

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The leaders of Britain, France and Germany said on Friday the “humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip “must end now”, as the war-ravaged Palestinian territory faces a deepening crisis.

“We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation,” they said in a joint statement released by Berlin.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “the most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay.”

“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” they said.

“Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

More than 100 aid and human rights groups warned this week that “mass starvation” was spreading in Gaza after more than 21 months of war.

Israel has rejected accusations it is responsible for the deepening crisis in Gaza, which the World Health Organization has called “man-made”.