New Zealand Among 25 Nations Urging Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

In a powerful demonstration of international concern, more than 25 Western nations, including New Zealand, Britain, France, Australia, Canada, and the European Union, have issued a joint statement calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza. The statement, released on July 21, 2025, highlights the “new depths” of suffering endured by the civilian population, as Israel's military operations expand into Deir el-Balah, a central city in the Gaza Strip.

The conflict, which has been ongoing for over 21 months, has left more than two million people in Gaza facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions. The joint statement from the 25 nations emphasizes that the war “must end now,” calling for a negotiated ceasefire, the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, and the free flow of humanitarian aid to the region.

The plea comes amid intensifying violence in Deir el-Balah, where Israeli forces have reportedly launched heavy shelling, displacing thousands of residents. According to the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), between 50,000 and 80,000 people were in the area when the evacuation order was issued, leaving many in a state of fear and uncertainty about their future.

Voices from the Ground
Abdullah Abu Saleem, a 48-year-old resident of Deir el-Balah, described the night of intense shelling as “like an earthquake,” with explosions shaking the area. “We are extremely worried and fearful that the army is planning a ground operation in Deir el-Balah and the central camps where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are sheltering,” he said.

Hamdi Abu Mughseeb, 50, shared a similar sentiment, stating that his family had fled northward from their tent near Deir el-Balah after a night of heavy shelling. “There is no safe place anywhere in the Gaza Strip,” he said, expressing helplessness over the lack of options for safety.

International Criticism of Aid Delivery
In their statement, the 25 nations also condemned Israel’s aid delivery model in Gaza, calling it “dangerous, fuels instability, and deprives Gazans of human dignity.” The UN has reported that 875 people have been killed in Gaza while trying to access food since late May, when Israel began relaxing a two-month aid blockade.

“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 read. This has further exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region, with aid workers and humanitarian agencies struggling to reach those in need.

Humanitarian Conditions in Deir el-Balah
AFP images captured plumes of dark smoke rising from Deir el-Balah, as the area became a focal point of intense military activity. The civil defence agency in Gaza reported that several families were trapped in the Al-Baraka area due to shelling by Israeli tanks. Meanwhile, Mai Elawawda, a communications officer with the UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, described the situation as “extremely critical,” with shelling occurring “all around our office” and military vehicles just 400 meters away from colleagues and their families.

Hostage Families Concerned
Families of the 49 hostages still held in Gaza, including 27 who are reportedly dead, expressed “shocked and alarmed” by the evacuation orders in Deir el-Balah. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on political and military authorities to “clearly explain why the offensive in the Deir el-Balah area does not put the hostages at serious risk.”

Human Toll and Ongoing Conflict
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed 59,029 Palestinians, mostly civilians. Meanwhile, the 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

As the international community continues to call for an end to the violence, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with civilians caught in the crossfire of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.