On the 27th, 14 members of the United Nations Security Council, except the United States, issued a joint statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urging Israel to immediately revoke the decision to expand military operations in Gaza and to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The 14 countries issued the joint statement after the Security Council held an open meeting on the Palestinian issue in the Middle East on the 27th. The joint statement was jointly read out by the representatives of Guyana and Slovenia.
The joint statement pointed out that the 14 countries were extremely shocked and concerned by reports from relevant United Nations agencies confirming the occurrence of famine in Gaza. The 14 countries stated that the famine in Gaza is man-made and that using hunger as a weapon of war is explicitly prohibited by international humanitarian law.
In the joint statement, the 14 countries called for an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire; the immediate and unconditional release of detainees with dignity; and a substantial increase in humanitarian aid throughout Gaza. The 14 countries also urged Israel to immediately and unconditionally lift all humanitarian aid restrictions on Gaza, including opening all land crossings and allowing the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to carry out safe and large-scale relief operations.
The 14 countries expressed opposition to Israel’s decision to expand its military operations in Gaza to seize Gaza City, believing that this move would inevitably worsen the already shocking humanitarian situation and endanger civilian lives. The 14 countries urged Israel to immediately revoke this decision.
The 14 countries are the Security Council permanent members China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, as well as non-permanent members Algeria, Denmark, Greece, Guyana, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Somalia.