‘Wrong message:’ Israel dismisses call by 25 countries to end Gaza war

"The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas’s role and responsibility for the situation," said the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Monday rejected a joint statement issued earlier in the day by the top diplomats of 25 countries and a European Union commissioner calling for an end to the war in Gaza. “Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas,” the ministry said.

“All statements and claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it,” it added. The joint declaration, titled “Occupied Palestinian Territories: Joint Statement, 21 July 2025,” was signed by Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Japan and others.

It was also signed by the E.U. Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib. Their criticisms focused primarily on Israel’s new aid distribution model for Gaza, which they claimed is “dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity.” “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 said. (Read More)