Israel Says 28-Country Call for War in Gaza to End Is ‘Disconnected From Reality’

A statement, backed by a raft of European nations as well as Australia, Canada, and Japan, pushed for a negotiated cease-fire between Hamas and Israel.

An Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on July 21, 2025. Jehad Alshrafi/AP

More than two dozen countries, including the UK, Japan, and Canada, issued a joint statement Monday calling for the war in Gaza to “end now.”

The foreign ministers of 28 countries, which also include Australia, New Zealand, France, and Ireland, among others, said that “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,“ and labeled the Israeli government’s model for delivering aid as ”dangerous.”

“We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food,” the statement read.

“It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.”

The statement also called for the release of all the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, adding that a “negotiated ceasefire offers the best hope of bringing them home and ending the agony of their families.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a post on X that the “horror in Gaza must end.”

“We’re stepping up our humanitarian efforts with new healthcare, food and water for Gazans,” he added. “We need an immediate ceasefire now, the release of all hostages and a surge in aid.”

The foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, as well as the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, also signed the statement.

The statement was rejected by both Jerusalem and Washington, with Israel’s Foreign Ministry saying it was “disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas.”

The ministry also accused Hamas of prolonging the war by refusing to accept an Israeli-backed proposal for a temporary cease-fire and hostage release.

“The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas’s role and responsibility for the situation,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said on X.

“Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides. At these sensitive moments in the ongoing negotiations, it is better to avoid statements of this kind.”

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar shared a screenshot of a Hamas message welcoming the joint statement, saying that the terrorist group’s praise for the missive “is the best proof of the mistake they made–part of them out of good intentions and part of them out of an obsession against Israel.”

“Countries must act responsibly and avoid playing into Hamas’s hands!” he added.

Washington’s ambassador to Jerusalem, Mike Huckabee, branded the statement “disgusting“ for putting pressure on Israel, rather than the ”savages of Hamas.”

“Gaza suffers for 1 reason,” Huckabee wrote on X. “Hamas rejects EVERY proposal. Blaming Israel is irrational.”

In a later post, sharing Saar’s remarks, he added: “When Hamas thinks you do good work, you are doing evil.”

Germany did not sign the statement, but German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on X that he had spoken with Saar on Monday and expressed the “greatest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza.

He also called for Israel to implement the agreements with the EU to facilitate humanitarian aid.

Israel and Hamas have been engaged in indirect cease-fire discussions in Qatar, but there currently seems to be no sign of an agreement being reached.

Hamas says any deal must lead to the end of the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will only end once the terrorist group is disarmed, its leaders expelled from Gaza, and all the hostages they are holding freed.

At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to still be alive, Netanyahu said earlier this month.

Israeli tanks entered the Gazan city of Deir Al-Balah for the first time on Monday, after the Israel Defense Forces stated that it was extending its operations in the territory.

On July 20, at least 67 people were killed by Israeli fire as they waited for U.N. aid trucks to enter Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

The incident was also confirmed by the U.N. World Food Program.