📢 25 Nations & EU to Israel: End the War Now. Aid Starvation Is Not a Strategy
UK, EU, and allies condemn Israel’s deadly blockade and “inhumane” aid delivery system as Gaza faces mass starvation and water collapse. Washington remains silent.
Twenty-five nations, plus the European Union, have issued a joint statement calling for an end to the war in Gaza. It condemned the "horrifying" killing of hundreds of Gazans trying to get food from Israel's aid operations. The statement said: “We, the signatories listed below, come together with a simple, urgent message: the war in Gaza must end now. 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. 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 statement has been signed by the foreign ministers of: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Plus the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management. A notable absence was the United States, the key backer of Israel, however the signatories said they support US efforts to find a ceasefire. The only government the Israelis really listen to is in Washington, a London-based analyst said. “But Donald Trump’s position on this has blown hot and cold as the President does on so many issues.”
The statement is notable for its candour, reflecting both western frustration and political pressure, BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale writes. “There have in recent years been many international statements condemning Israel’s tactics in Gaza. But this declaration is notable for its candour, reflecting both western frustration at Israeli intransigence and also the growing political pressure that many governments are feeling.” He adds: “But they are brutal in their dismissal of the new US-supported mechanism of delivering aid in Gaza, which they condemn as the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians. In a key paragraph, the 25 countries say they are prepared to take further action to support a ceasefire and political pathway to security and peace.
That is code for recognising a state of Palestine, something many countries have done but not all, including the UK and France. That is one point of leverage on Israel that both countries are discussing but have yet to pull.”
Gaza City’s municipality warns of “extreme thirst” after its main desalination plant in the north shut down completely during Israel’s total fuel blockade. The World Food Programme says Palestinians throughout Gaza are not eating for days and facing soaring malnutrition – “getting to levels we’ve never seen ever before.”
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says mass displacement continues across Gaza with just 10 percent of the territory now accessible to civilians. “People are being forced to flee again with nowhere safe to go,” UNRWA said, noting many have already been displaced multiple times. It reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire.In a separate social media post, the agency warned the summer heat is worsening Gaza’s water crisis. Wells are becoming inaccessible because of ongoing bombardment and forced evacuation orders, while critical services, including water delivery, are at risk of shutting down amid severe fuel shortages. Only two trucks of fuel are entering Gaza each day, far below what’s needed. UNRWA says without fuel it cannot deliver water to those in need, and urged an end to Israel’s devastating blockade - Al Jazeera
At least 56 people are killed as Israeli forces continue to pound Gaza a day after killing at least 115 Palestinians, including 79 aid seekers at the Zikim crossing and 13 others at GHF-run sites.
In a lengthy and emotional sitting of the British House of Commons on Monday evening monitored by World Briefing, the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, took several questions from fellow members. Near the completion, he said he realizes that actions speak louder than wards. He said London had warned Israel about the dangers of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s reduction of distribution points for food in Gaza to just four. “We stand with the international community in all of our efforts,” Lammy said. Several politicians pressed Lammy for further clarification of “the recognition issue” - that is recognising a state of Palestine, which the UK and France have not yet done. In a reply to a closing question, Lammy said “there can be no justification for shooting people waiting for food - none whatsoever.” Lammy also announced an extra £40m of humanitarian assistance to Gaza this year.
Russia and Ukraine are expected to hold a new round of talks in Istanbul later this week, according to Russian state news agency TASS, which cited an informed source. While the exact dates are still being finalized, the report offered no further details. The announcement comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said over the weekend that Kyiv had proposed fresh negotiations with Moscow, marking a potential — albeit tentative — return to diplomacy amid intensifying violence. The diplomatic overture follows one of the deadliest nights of Russian strikes in recent days. More than 400 drones and around two dozen missiles rained down on multiple Ukrainian regions, including the capital, Kyiv, and the western city of Ivano-Frankivsk. A major metro station in Kyiv was heavily damaged, with smoke filling platforms where civilians had sought shelter. Local officials in Ivano-Frankivsk described the barrage as the largest assault on the region since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukraine’s SBU state security service launched a series of raids on the country’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday as part of a sweeping investigation into suspected collusion with Russian spies. Politico reported that the SBU alleges that one of the top detectives at the anti-corruption agency, Ruslan Magamedrasulov, and another elite officer at the bureau were working as Russian moles. Both were detained. In total, more than 70 searches were conducted. It triggered many critical posts from Ukraine on social media throughout Monday.
Concert organizers in Italy have canceled a performance by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev following mounting criticism over his ties to the Kremlin, the Italian news outlet ANSA reported Monday. Gergiev, a supporter of President Vladimir Putin who has since December 2023 led Moscow’s world-famous Bolshoi Theatre, has been largely ostracized in the West for refusing to denounce Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His symphony concert outside of Naples, scheduled for July 27 at the Reggia di Caserta, had been promoted as an “unforgettable symphony.” ANSA did not specify its sources but reported that organizers decided to cancel the event amid growing public outcry. Gregiev later told the state-run TASS news agency that he had not been informed about the symphony concert cancellation. Meanwhile, Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late opposition activist Alexei Navalny, had both condemned the invitation for Gergiev, warning it could be exploited as a Kremlin propaganda tool. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation had also urged Italian authorities to call off the performance. An online petition opposing the event garnered over 16,000 signatures, according to ANSA. Russia’s Ambassador in Italy Alexei Paramonov said in a statement later on Monday that he was “dismayed by the excessive controversy and aggressive rhetoric in the Italian press” about the invitation for Gergiev to perform at Reggia di Caserta - Moscow Times
At least 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a Pakistani couple in a remote mountainous area of Balochistan that was captured on video, sparking outrage over what is thought to be another "honor" killing. The killings, which took place last month, were reportedly ordered by a local tribal council, or jirga, to allegedly defend the "honor” of their families after the couple married against the families' wishes. The identities of the victims have not been made public. The killings were captured in a video that went viral across social media platforms. The footage shows the woman holding a copy of the Koran and asking the man to walk seven steps with her before she would accept being shot. She is seen standing and remaining defiant even after being hit by the first gunshots, and eventually collapses after multiple shots are fired. The video also depicts attackers continuing to shoot both victims after they had fallen, with several pickup trucks and SUVs present at the scene, suggesting the couple and their assailants had been brought there deliberately. Zahra Shah, a women’s rights activist based in Karachi, called the video “heart‑wrenching” and urged women to keep fighting for their rights, saying, “this cruelty of honor killings must stop.” - RFE/RL
China is set to expand its influence over Southeast Asia’s development as the Trump administration and other Western donors slash aid, a study by an Australian think tank said Sunday. The region is in an “uncertain moment”, facing cuts in official development finance from the West as well as “especially punitive” US trade tariffs, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute said. “Declining Western aid risks ceding a greater role to China, though other Asian donors will also gain in importance,” it said. Total official development finance to Southeast Asia — including grants, low-rate loans and other loans — grew “modestly” to US$29 billion in 2023, the annual report said. But US President Donald Trump has since halted about US$60 billion in development assistance — most of the United States’ overseas aid programme. Seven European countries — including France and Germany — and the European Union have announced US$17.2 billion in aid cuts to be implemented between 2025 and 2029, it said. And the United Kingdom has said it is reducing annual aid by US$7.6 billion, redirecting government money towards defence. Based on recent announcements, overall official development finance to Southeast Asia will fall by more than US$2 billion by 2026, the study projected. “These cuts will hit Southeast Asia hard,” it said. “Poorer countries and social sector priorities such as health, education, and civil society support that rely on bilateral aid funding are likely to lose out the most.” Higher-income countries already capture most of the region’s official development finance, said the institute’s Southeast Asia Aid Map report. Poorer countries such as East Timor, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are being left behind, creating a deepening divide that could undermine long-term stability, equity and resilience, it warned. Despite substantial economic development across most of Southeast Asia, around 86 million people still live on less than US$3.65 a day, it said - AFP
Cambodia's newly launched national carrier, Air Cambodia, has inadvertently sparked a social media firestorm, with online users widely criticising its branding for its uncanny likeness to Thai Airways. The controversy erupted following the airline's inaugural direct flight between Shenzhen, China, and Siem Reap on Friday (July 18, 2025). Formerly known as "Cambodia Angkor Air," the rebranded Air Cambodia's launch was a significant moment for the nation's tourism sector. However, it's the airline's aesthetics that have truly captured attention. Observers quickly pointed out that the aircraft's livery, cabin crew uniforms, and even the company logo all feature a distinctive purple hue, strikingly similar to Thai Airways - The Nation
David Beckham’s hair is making headlines once again, but not in the trend-setting way it once did. On July 20, the English former soccer star posted a video to his Instagram of a DIY mishap that left the 50-year-old with a front-and-center triangular bald spot. The mistake was anything but subtle, with a seemingly embarrassed David Beckham caught trying to shield it from his wife, Victoria Beckham, as she captured the moment on video. The bald spot was the result of the clipper head falling off whilst he was shaving his head, and Victoria can be heard in the background, barely holding back laughter, saying, “I’m going to always be honest with you: it looks terrible.” Beckham demonstrated his range in hairstyles over the years with his mohawks, buzzcuts, and ponytails, but this new hairdo takes the cake. The English star firmly captioned the post, “IT’S NOT FUNNY”—a position his family deeply disagreed with. His 22-year-old son, Romeo, chimed in with a teasing, “Oh my days 😂,” while Victoria Beckham piled on with, “What have u done?!? 😂😂 your little face!!! U were devastated 😂😂😂.” With any luck, the family’s group chat will run out of jokes by the time his hair grows back. - Daily Beast
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