Britain, France, and Germany demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

In a joint statement issued Friday evening, the governments of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom called for an immediate return to the ceasefire in Gaza and demanded that Israel allow humanitarian aid into the besieged enclave.

The joint statement by the foreign ministers of the three countries read: "We call on Israel to restore humanitarian aid, including water and electricity, and to ensure the provision of medical care and temporary medical evacuation in accordance with international humanitarian law."

tragic step

"The resumption of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza represents a tragic step backward for the people of Gaza," the ministers said. "We are appalled by the civilian casualties and urgently call for an immediate return to the ceasefire."

The joint appeal came after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz threatened to annex parts of the Gaza Strip if Hamas did not release the remaining Israeli prisoners.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, and British Foreign Secretary David Lamy called on "all parties to re-engage in negotiations to ensure the full implementation of the ceasefire and make it permanent."

The ministers stressed that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be resolved by military means and that a long-term ceasefire is the only reliable path to peace.

The ministers added that they were "deeply shocked" by the bombing of the UN Office for Project Services building in Gaza and the killing of one staff member, and called for an investigation into the incident.

The statement called on Hamas to release the dozens of remaining prisoners in the Palestinian Strip and said it "must no longer rule Gaza and pose a threat to Israel."

They also said that Israel must "fully respect international law" and allow aid to flow into the Gaza Strip.

In New York, members of the UN Security Council condemned the violation of the ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the need to return to negotiations.

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Sigrid Kaag reiterated the UN Secretary-General's rejection of the forced displacement of populations from any part of the occupied Palestinian territory.

Israel resumed its aggression on the Gaza Strip at dawn last Tuesday, following a two-month hiatus under a ceasefire agreement that went into effect on January 19. However, the occupation has repeatedly violated the terms of the ceasefire over the past two months.

The occupation continued its bombardment of various locations in the Gaza Strip, leaving martyrs and wounded. It refused to implement the humanitarian protocol and tightened its stifling siege on the Strip, which is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian tragedy.

Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies