Foreign ministers from 25 countries, alongside a European Union commissioner, issued a joint declaration on Monday demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent cease-fire in Gaza. The document, released by the UK Foreign Office, says the war “must end now” and urges all parties to back a negotiated political pathway to peace. Citing United Nations data that more than 800 Palestinians have been killed while trying to obtain food in recent weeks, the ministers condemn what they call the “drip-feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children.” They describe Israel’s current aid distribution mechanism as “dangerous,” argue it fuels instability and deprives Gazans of dignity, and call on the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on humanitarian deliveries and allow UN agencies and NGOs to work safely. The signatories—among them Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom—also oppose any permanent displacement of Palestinians or expansion of Israeli settlements, warning that such moves violate international humanitarian law and jeopardise a future two-state solution. They say they are prepared to take further measures to support an immediate cease-fire, and endorse ongoing mediation efforts by the United States, Qatar and Egypt. The U.S. and Germany did not add their names to the statement. Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the declaration as “disconnected from reality,” arguing it fails to hold Hamas responsible for continued hostilities. Hamas welcomed the appeal, calling it further evidence of international concern about civilian suffering in Gaza.