UK, France and 23 other countries call for immediate end to Gaza war

Twenty-five countries including Britain, France and a host of European nations issued a joint statement on Monday saying the war in Gaza "must end now" and Israel must comply with international law.

"We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now," the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Italy, Japan, Australia, Canada, Denmark and other countries said in a joint statement.

"We are prepared to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political pathway to security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the entire region."

The foreign ministers of countries including Australia, Canada and Japan said "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 most basic needs of water and food."

Mourners react near the bodies of Palestinians killed in overnight Israeli strikes, according to medics, during the funeral at Al Shifa Hospital. Reuters

"The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the statement said.

"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," it added.

The signatories included the foreign ministers of about 20 European countries as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management.

The US and Germany did not sign the statement.

The signatories called for an immediate ceasefire, adding they are prepared to take action to support a political pathway to peace in the region.

Gaza's population of more than 2 million Palestinians is in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times.

Israel's military offensive has killed more than 59,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Associated Press / Reuters