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UK and Germany call for 'sustainable ceasefire' in Gaza

World

UK and Germany call for 'sustainable ceasefire' in Gaza

By Agence France-Presse

LONDON, United Kingdom - UK foreign minister David Cameron and German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Saturday said the "need is urgent" for a "sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza.

Demonstrators protest in support of Palestinians during a "Shut Down for Palestine" rally in New York on December 16, 2023. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

The two ministers wrote in a joint Sunday Times article that "too many civilians have been killed" in the conflict, and raised the pressure on Israel to bring its operation against Hamas to a swift, but "sustainable", end.

"We must do all we can to pave the way to a sustainable ceasefire, leading to a sustainable peace. The sooner it comes, the better â€” the need is urgent," they wrote.

However, the pair also said that they "do not believe that calling right now for a general and immediate ceasefire, hoping it somehow becomes permanent, is the way forward.

"It ignores why Israel is forced to defend itself: Hamas barbarically attacked Israel and still fires rockets to kill Israeli citizens every day. Hamas must lay down its arms," they added.

The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday night overwhelmingly demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, but the UK abstained.

Israel is coming increasing pressure from its allies over its war in Gaza, with key backer the United States criticising its bombing in response to the October 7 attacks as "indiscriminate".

The war began after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7 that killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw around 240 hostages taken, according to Israeli authorities.

Vowing to destroy Hamas and to bring the hostages home, Israel launched a withering offensive on Gaza, which is ruled by the militant group.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the war has killed more than 18,800 people, mostly women and children.

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