UK, France, Germany Urge Immediate Gaza Ceasefire, Demand Humanitarian Access
March 21 (Reuters):
The governments of Germany, France, and Britain—known collectively as the E3—have jointly called for an immediate return to a ceasefire in Gaza and urged Israel to restore full humanitarian access to the war-torn region.
In a joint statement released on Friday, the foreign ministers said:
“We call on Israel to restore humanitarian access, including water and electricity, and ensure access to medical care and temporary medical evacuations in accordance with international humanitarian law.”
The E3 ministers also expressed deep concern over the rising civilian casualties in Gaza:
“We are appalled by the civilian casualties and call on Hamas to release all Israeli hostages immediately.”
They emphasized that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be solved by military means. Instead, a lasting ceasefire is the only credible path toward achieving peace in the region.
Additionally, the ministers said they were “deeply shocked” by a recent incident involving damage to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
building in Gaza. They called for a thorough investigation into the event.
The statement reflects growing international pressure on both sides to de-escalate the conflict and prioritize humanitarian aid.
