Overview

• More than two dozen Western countries issued a joint statement on Monday demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
• They condemned Israel’s “drip feeding” of aid as dangerous and in breach of international humanitarian law.
• UN agencies report that over 800 Palestinians have been killed since late May while seeking food and fuel under the Israeli-backed relief programme.
• On July 21, Israel moved into Deir el-Balah, ordering 50,000–80,000 residents to evacuate as artillery and tank fire intensified.
• Gaza’s Health Ministry tallies over 59,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023, and UN data indicates nearly 90% of the population has been displaced.