By Mohammed Bello Doka
In a significant diplomatic move, leaders of the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have jointly called for an immediate end to the ongoing Gaza war. Meeting in Berlin on October 18, 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the urgency of halting the conflict and returning the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas over a year ago.
The leaders highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, stressing the need to ensure aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The conflict, which began with a large-scale attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 42,500 Palestinian casualties, with the majority being civilians, and significant loss of life in Israel, including the deaths of 1,206 people.
The summit also addressed broader regional tensions, including the ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and concerns over Iran's escalatory missile attack on Israel earlier this month. The leaders condemned these acts, reiterating their stance against Iran’s involvement in exacerbating the situation. The death of Yahya Sinwar, a key Hamas leader blamed for the initial attack, was noted as a critical event with potential implications for the trajectory of the conflict.
This joint statement underscores a unified stance among major Western powers towards ending hostilities, safeguarding civilian lives, and fostering stability in the Middle East.
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