“Six Great Nations Unite: Condemn Hamas, Press for Hostage Release!

In an unprecedented show of solidarity, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy have joined forces to condemn the actions of Hamas and urge an immediate release of hostages held by the militant group. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office issued a statement with Blinken, the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, calling the continued hostage-taking by Hamas “unacceptable.” The nations united in expressing outrage at the detention of journalist Paul Whelan, who was visiting the Gaza Strip and was arrested by Hamas on April 18th. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, has been held without any charge or trial for 18 months and denied access to consular assistance. The statement further called out Hamas for perpetrating “human rights abuses against Palestinians and other civilians, promoting violence, and refusing to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.” The nations also reiterated their commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and expressed their firm support for a two-state solution. Blinken urged Hamas to consider a “comprehensive approach to end the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and throughout the region.” The other five countries echoed the sentiment and deplored the “intransigence of the Hamas authorities and their unwillingness to listen to the voice of reason or act in the best interests of the Palestinian people.” The British-led diplomatic effort has seen a flurry of diplomatic activities over the past few days, with the UK leading the charge to secure Whelan’s release or ensure he is given access to due process. The joint statement was also preceded by intense diplomatic pressure on Hamas by several governments behind the scenes, sending a strong message to the militant group that it is critically important for them to free those held hostage and stop using human shields for their political gain. The unified stance of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy shows the value and solidarity of the international community in condemning the actions of Hamas and advocating for an immediate release of hostages. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Italy have joined forces to condemn the actions of Hamas and urge an immediate release of hostages held by the militant group. On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office issued a statement with Blinken, the U.K.’s Foreign Secretary, calling the continued hostage-taking by Hamas “unacceptable.” The nations united in expressing outrage at the detention of journalist Paul Whelan, who was visiting the Gaza Strip and was arrested by Hamas on April 18th. Whelan, a former U.S. Marine, has been held without any charge or trial for 18 months and denied access to consular assistance. The statement further called out Hamas for perpetrating “human rights abuses against Palestinians and other civilians, promoting violence, and refusing to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist.” The nations also reiterated their commitment to finding a peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and expressed their firm support for a two-state solution. Blinken urged Hamas to consider a “comprehensive approach to end the suffering of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and throughout the region.” The other five countries echoed the sentiment and deplored the “intransigence of the Hamas authorities and their unwillingness to listen to the voice of reason or act in the best interests of the Palestinian people.” The British-led diplomatic effort has seen a flurry of diplomatic activities over the past few days, with the UK leading the charge to secure Whelan’s release or ensure he is given access to due process. The joint statement was also preceded by intense diplomatic pressure on Hamas by several governments behind the scenes, sending a strong message to the militant group that it is critically important for them to free those held hostage and stop using human shields for their political gain. The unified stance of the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy shows the value and solidarity of the international community in condemning the actions of Hamas and advocating for an immediate release of hostages.