Call for end to war on Gaza 'disconnected from reality,' Israel says

The Israeli foreign ministry on Monday rejected the joint statement published by over 20 countries, including Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe, calling for an end to its war on Gaza, "as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas". 

The statement, released earlier on Monday, used some of the strongest language yet to denounce Israel's starvation of Palestinians in the besieged strip.

"The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity," the joint statement said.

"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. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law," the statement continued.

"We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively".