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Over two dozen Western nations demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza on Monday, highlighting that the suffering has “reached unprecedented levels” as Israel intensified its military actions in the central city of Deir el-Balah.
Following more than 21 months of conflict that has led to dire humanitarian conditions for Gaza's over two million inhabitants, allies of Israel such as Britain, France, Australia, Canada, and 21 other countries, along with the EU, issued a joint statement declaring that the war “must stop now”.
The signatories emphasized, “The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels,” calling for a negotiated ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, and the unimpeded distribution of essential aid.
Shortly after, the United Nations chief warned that Gazans' “last lifelines” were failing.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the countries’ statement, asserting that any international pressure should target Hamas, while US ambassador Mike Huckabee deemed the joint letter “disgraceful”. In contrast, key mediator Egypt supported the statement.
The Western appeal coincided with heavy shelling in Deir el-Balah on Monday, after Israel's military had previously ordered residents to evacuate, warning of imminent action in an area where they had not previously been active.
Estimates from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA indicate that between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in Deir el-Balah when the evacuation order was issued.
Abdullah Abu Saleem, a 48-year-old resident, informed AFP that “during the night, we heard huge and powerful explosions shaking the area as if it were an earthquake.”
He attributed this to artillery fire in the south-central and southeastern parts of Deir el-Balah and expressed grave concern that a ground operation by the army was forthcoming.
In their statement, Western nations also criticized Israel’s model of delivering aid in Gaza, claiming it is “dangerous, exacerbates instability, and strips Gazans of their human dignity.”
The UN has documented 875 fatalities in Gaza related to people seeking food since late May, when Israel began easing a lengthy aid blockade.
“We denounce the inadequate provision of aid and the inhumane killings of civilians, including children, trying to fulfill their most basic needs for water and food,” the statement asserted.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, through his spokesperson, condemned the “worsening humanitarian conditions”, noting “increasing reports of malnutrition among children and adults”.
The spokesperson for Gaza’s civil defense agency, Mahmud Bassal, stated that they had “received calls from several families trapped in the Al-Baraka area of Deir el-Balah due to Israeli tank shelling.”
The Israeli military did not provide a comment in response to requests. Since the conflict began, nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced at least once due to repeated evacuation orders from Israel.
According to OCHA, the latest directives imply that 87.8 percent of the territory is now under evacuation orders or situated within Israeli militarized zones.
Hamdi Abu Mughseeb, 50, told AFP that he and his family fled north from their tent in southern Deir el-Balah at dawn after a night of heavy shelling. “There is nowhere safe in the Gaza Strip,” he lamented.
“I don’t know where we can go.” Mai Elawawda, a communications officer with the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, described the situation as “extremely critical,” with shelling “all around our office, and military vehicles positioned just 400 meters (1,300 feet) away from our colleagues and their families.”
The families of hostages taken during Hamas’s assault on Israel in October 2023 expressed that they were “shocked and alarmed” by reports of evacuation orders in Deir el-Balah.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urged political and military officials to “clearly explain why the offensive in Deir el-Balah does not pose serious risks to the hostages.”
Of the 251 hostages captured during the October attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military claims are deceased.
Civil defense spokesman Bassal reported at least 15 fatalities due to Israeli military actions across Gaza on Monday.
Due to media restrictions in Gaza and obstacles in accessing many areas, AFP is unable to independently verify casualty counts and details released by the agency and other sources.
Israel’s military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 59,029 Palestinians, predominantly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled region.
The October 2023 attack by Hamas, which sparked the war, led to 1,219 fatalities, most being civilians, according to an AFP tally compiled from official statistics.
