LONDON/BERLIN/PARIS – The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany issued a joint statement on Friday demanding an immediate end to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling the situation a “catastrophe” and urging a swift ceasefire.

“We call on the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid and to allow UN agencies and NGOs to operate freely to address the threat of starvation,” read the statement, released by Berlin.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that “basic needs such as access to food and water must be met without further delay.”

They declared that blocking essential humanitarian aid to civilians is “unacceptable” and called on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law.

The warning follows alerts from over 100 humanitarian and rights groups earlier this week, which reported the spread of mass starvation in Gaza after more than 21 months of war. The World Health Organization has described the crisis as “man-made.”

In March, Israel imposed a strict aid blockade on Gaza, partially easing it two months later but sidelining the traditional UN-led aid coordination mechanisms. Israel has rejected responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation.

The European leaders’ statement added: “The time has come to end the war in Gaza. We urge all parties to reach an immediate ceasefire.”

They also expressed their willingness to support peace efforts: “We stand ready to take further action in support of a ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region.”

The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in Israel, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to official figures compiled by AFP.

In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that has resulted in the deaths of 59,676 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Out of the 251 hostages taken during the October attack, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 confirmed dead, according to the Israeli military.