UK, France, and Germany Urge Israel to Allow Gaza Aid Access

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

LONDON –The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have called on Israel to allow the immediate and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, warning of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe. The coordinated appeal followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark announcement that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine, becoming the first major Western power and G7 nation to do so.

In a joint statement issued after a high-level call between Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the three leaders demanded an immediate ceasefire and condemned the withholding of life-saving aid from Gaza’s civilian population.

“Denying essential humanitarian assistance is unacceptable,” the statement read, warning of the regional implications of continued escalation.

While the statement did not detail punitive measures, it expressed a unified European willingness to take further steps to support a permanent ceasefire and renew political efforts for lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

President Macron’s decision to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly this September has drawn contrasting reactions from his European allies. While France moves ahead, Germany stated it has no immediate plans to follow suit, and the UK has stopped short of a similar move — although political pressure is mounting.

More than 220 Members of Parliament in Britain have signed a joint letter urging PM Keir Starmer to formally recognize Palestine, stressing the urgency of the situation.

“We’ve supported a two-state solution since 1980. Recognition now gives that policy real weight,” the letter noted.

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting also publicly called for immediate recognition, stating:

“We must act now — while there’s still a state left to recognize.”

Prime Minister Starmer, while reiterating his support for a two-state solution, emphasized that recognition must be part of a broader peace framework. He condemned recent Israeli actions, including the detention of hostages, aid blockades, and settler violence, labeling the military escalation in Gaza as “disproportionate.”

“Recognition of a Palestinian state must contribute to a sustainable path toward peace, not become a symbolic gesture,” Starmer said.

More than 140 countries, including several EU members, have recognized Palestine. However, France is now the first G7 member and largest EU nation to officially announce this move. The decision has drawn condemnation from both Israel and the United States, which argue that recognition should follow a negotiated resolution.

Meanwhile, formal negotiations between Israel and Palestinian leaders remain stalled, with no major diplomatic progress since before the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and ignited the current conflict.