News17 nations demand Hamas release hostages to end Gaza crisis

17 nations demand Hamas release hostages to end Gaza crisis

Seventeen countries have issued a joint statement calling for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for over 200 days. "Among them are our citizens," the document's signatories noted.

Joint appeal of 17 countries.
Joint appeal of 17 countries.
Images source: © EPA, PAP | ATEF SAFADI

The joint statement was issued by Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as announced on Thursday.

The statement demands the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, highlighting the international concern for the hostages and the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, who are protected under international law. It suggests that an agreement for the hostages' release could pave the way for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, facilitating the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid and potentially bringing a permanent end to the hostilities. The signatories hope that this would allow the residents of the Gaza Strip to return to their homes and lands, with preparations made to offer shelter and humanitarian assistance.

Appeal to Hamas

The countries involved in the statement have expressed strong support for ongoing mediation efforts, aiming to bring their citizens home. "We renew our call to Hamas to release the hostages and allow an end to this crisis so we can collectively focus on peace and stability in the region," they stated.

On October 7 last year, Hamas attacked Israel, leading to over 1200 deaths and the abduction of more than 240 individuals to the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel launched a significant air attack followed by a ground operation by its military forces. The health ministry of the Gaza Strip reports that 34,000 Palestinians have died due to Israeli military actions. UN agencies have highlighted the dire situation, with the majority of the approximately 2.3 million residents losing their homes and facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

The Global Initiative on the Classification of Food Security Phases, supported by the World Food Programme and others, regularly cautions that the entire population of the Gaza Strip is experiencing a high level of serious food insecurity. Additionally, there's a warning that by the end of May, the northern part of the territory could face famine.

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