Joint statement: Denmark calls for an end to the killing of civilians in Gaza, the unhindered flow of aid, and the release of hostages.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has just published a statement, co-signed by Denmark and 24 other countries, which reads as follows:
We, the undersigned, come together with a simple and urgent message: The war in Gaza must end now.
The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels. The Israeli government’s model of aid delivery is dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives the people of Gaza of their human dignity. We condemn the drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking basic necessities like water and food. It is appalling that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access aid. 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 brutally held by Hamas since October 7, 2023, continue to suffer greatly. We condemn their continued detention and call for their immediate and unconditional release. A negotiated ceasefire is the best hope for their return home and an end to their families' suffering.
We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently enable the United Nations and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their life-saving work safely and effectively.
We call on all parties to protect civilians and uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law. Proposals to relocate the Palestinian population to a “humanitarian city” are completely unacceptable. Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law.
We strongly oppose any steps toward geographic or demographic change in the occupied Palestinian territory. The E1 settlement plan announced by the Israeli Civil Administration, if implemented, would effectively divide the Palestinian state in two, constituting a flagrant violation of international law and seriously undermining the two-state solution. Meanwhile, settlement construction has accelerated throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while settler violence against Palestinians has escalated. This must stop.
We urge the parties and the international community to unite in a concerted effort to end this horrific conflict through an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire. Further bloodshed is pointless. We reaffirm our full support for the efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to achieve this. We stand ready to take further steps to support an immediate ceasefire and a political path toward security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.
Sign this statement:
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 United Kingdom.
European Union Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
The statement has ended.
