France, Germany, Britain Leaders Unite for Gaza Cease-Fire Call

The leaders of France, Germany, and Britain have jointly supported calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the safe return of numerous hostages held by Hamas. They also emphasized the need for unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery to the region. This endorsement came through a statement released on Monday, backing the efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to mediate an end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has lasted nearly a year.

The mediation plan, discussed for months, involves a three-stage process where Hamas would release hostages taken during their October 7 attack, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, followed by an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The European leaders stressed the urgency of halting the conflict and securing the release of all hostages currently held by Hamas, highlighting the critical need for direct humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The statement, undersigned by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also urged Iran and its allies to avoid retaliatory actions that could escalate tensions in the region further, particularly following the recent assassinations of two senior militants in Beirut and Tehran.