France, Germany and UK: The moment has come to stop the war in Gaza

(Patria) - France, Germany and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement today that the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip must be stopped immediately.

"The humanitarian catastrophe we are witnessing in Gaza must be stopped immediately," the statement said, as Paris, Berlin and London responded to warnings from the United Nations and non-governmental organisations about famine in the Palestinian enclave.

The three European capitals appealed to the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on aid deliveries.

France, Germany and the United Kingdom also warned Israel that it must respect its obligations under international humanitarian law.

"The moment has come to stop the war in Gaza," the statement continued, calling on both sides for an immediate ceasefire.

The three European countries reiterated their call for the release of Israeli hostages and the disarmament of Hamas, and "firmly opposed" any attempt to impose Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Threats of annexation, settlement expansion and settler violence against Palestinians undermine the chances of reaching an agreement on a two-state solution," they warned.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced yesterday that he would hold an emergency meeting on the situation in Gaza with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The joint statement did not specify whether it was issued before or after that meeting, according to the France Presse agency.