France, UK, Germany call for "immediate end" to war in Gaza
France, the United Kingdom, and Germany issued a joint call Friday for an “immediate end to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” demanding unrestricted aid access and a ceasefire, as civilian suffering under the ongoing "Israeli" blockade and bombardment intensifies.
The statement followed a call between French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. It urged "Israel" to allow essential humanitarian assistance into Gaza and condemned the ongoing deprivation of aid to the civilian population as “unacceptable.”
The leaders expressed readiness to “take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting security and peace for "Israelis", Palestinians, and the entire region,” though they did not specify what actions might follow.
The announcement came just a day after Macron said France would formally recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, making it the first major Western power to do so.
His move has exposed growing divisions within the European trio, commonly known as the E3, over how to address the humanitarian disaster.
While all three countries support a two-state solution in principle, both the UK and Germany have stopped short of following France’s lead. Germany reiterated it has no immediate plans to recognize a Palestinian state, while Prime Minister Starmer faces growing domestic pressure to do so.
Earlier this week, UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting warned recognition should happen “while there’s still a state of Palestine left to recognize.” By Friday, 221 of the 650 members of the British House of Commons had signed a letter urging Starmer to recognize Palestinian statehood.
“Since 1980, we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance,” the letter stated.
Following the E3 call, Starmer condemned “the continued captivity of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the increasing violence from extremist settler groups, and Israel’s disproportionate military escalation in Gaza.” He emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state should be part of a broader pathway toward lasting peace.
More than 140 countries around the world currently recognize a Palestinian state, including several in Europe. France is now set to become the first G7 member to formally take that step.
"Israel" and the United States have both condemned France’s decision.
Britain, while maintaining support for a Palestinian state, insists that recognition should come through a negotiated peace process, something that has remained elusive for years.