January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
LONDON, July 22 — A coalition of 25 Western nations — including the UK, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand — has called for an immediate end to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, strongly condemning what they described as the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians, particularly those near food distribution sites.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers criticised the “drip feeding of aid” into Gaza, describing it as inadequate and deeply troubling. They highlighted that more than 800 civilians had been killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid, many of them near distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a US and Israeli-backed entity that recently assumed control over aid efforts from a UN-led network.
“The Israeli government’s approach to aid delivery is unsafe, exacerbates instability, and strips Gazans of basic human dignity,” the statement read. “The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels.”
The statement came from countries typically aligned with Israel, including four of the five members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance (excluding the US), adding weight to the growing international pressure on Israel to cease hostilities and ensure humanitarian access.
Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the joint statement, calling it “disconnected from reality” and warning it sent the wrong message to Hamas. “This statement fails to hold Hamas accountable for the crisis,” the ministry said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he discussed the matter with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, reiterating that Hamas bears responsibility for both the war’s continuation and the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slammed the statement as “disgusting,” arguing that it unfairly blamed Israel while Hamas continues to reject all efforts to end the conflict.
Conflict intensifies as call for ceasefire grows
The international appeal coincided with Israeli tanks advancing into new areas of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. Large parts of the territory have been devastated by over 21 months of conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli data.
Gaza health officials report that over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive. The latest fatalities were recorded Monday as Israeli forces launched a fresh incursion into central Gaza.
The GHF, which has taken over much of the aid delivery previously managed by the UN, uses private American logistics and security firms. Israel claims this shift prevents aid from falling into militant hands, an accusation Hamas denies. The UN has raised concerns over the GHF model, saying it compromises humanitarian neutrality — a claim the GHF disputes.
The 25 countries also urged Israel to comply with international humanitarian law, remove barriers to aid delivery, and allow humanitarian agencies and the UN to operate safely and effectively on the ground.
They concluded by saying they are “prepared to take further steps to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process toward lasting peace and security” for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Separately, the UK government announced an additional £60 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza. — Reuters
