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Top European diplomats are urgently advocating for a cease-fire in Gaza amidst rising civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed their concerns in a joint article published in the Sunday Times. They highlighted the excessive civilian deaths, urging the Israeli government to better distinguish between terrorists and civilians, specifically targeting Hamas leaders and operatives.

Cameron and Baerbock emphasized the importance of a sustainable and immediate ceasefire, warning, “Israel will not win this war if its operations destroy the prospect of peaceful coexistence with Palestinians.”

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna also called for an immediate truce during discussions with her Israeli counterpart in Tel Aviv. “An immediate truce is necessary, allowing progress to be made toward a ceasefire to obtain the release of the hostages, to allow access and the delivery of more humanitarian aid to the suffering civilian population of Gaza, and in fact to move toward a humanitarian cease-fire and the beginning of a political solution,” Colonna stated.

This comes following Hamas’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, leading to over 1,200 deaths and approximately 240 hostages. Israel’s subsequent bombardment of Gaza, aimed at neutralizing Hamas, has raised alarms over a potential humanitarian crisis, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 18,700 Palestinian casualties, mostly civilians.