Iceland has joined nine other countries in issuing a joint statement on the Gaza humanitarian response, calling for urgent action to address the deteriorating conditions in the territory, according to the Government of Iceland — News.
The statement, published on 30 December 2025, was signed by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. It reflects a coordinated diplomatic effort among a group of countries that have consistently sought multilateral solutions to the conflict. For Iceland, a small nation whose foreign policy has long emphasised international humanitarian law and multilateral engagement, the decision to sign carries both symbolic and political weight.
Iceland’s foreign minister added their name alongside counterparts from some of the world’s largest economies, a signal that Reykjavík remains an active voice in international affairs despite the country’s population of roughly 380,000.
What the Gaza joint statement calls for
The full text of the joint statement was released through official government channels in each participating country. While the specific language of the communiqué was not reproduced in detail in the Icelandic government’s published notice, the statement is described as addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza — a territory that has faced severe shortages of food, medicine and shelter amid ongoing conflict.
The ten signatory nations represent a broad geographic and political spread, spanning North America, Europe and East Asia. Their collective call carries weight in international forums such as the United Nations, where Iceland holds observer and membership roles and has historically advocated for civilian protections under international humanitarian law.
Statements of this kind are typically coordinated through diplomatic back-channels over days or weeks before publication. The timing — released in the final days of 2025 — suggests the participating governments wanted the position on record before the new year.
Iceland’s role in international humanitarian diplomacy
Iceland may be geographically remote, situated in the North Atlantic roughly midway between Europe and North America, but its engagement in international humanitarian issues has been consistent. The country is a member of NATO and the United Nations, and Icelandic foreign policy has placed particular emphasis on gender equality, disarmament and civilian protection in conflict zones.
The Alþingi, Iceland’s parliament, has in recent years debated humanitarian aid allocations and foreign policy positions on the Middle East. Public opinion in Iceland, as in several of the other signatory countries, has been vocal on the question of civilian casualties in Gaza.
By joining Canada, France, the United Kingdom and Japan — permanent or closely allied members of the G7 — Iceland aligns itself with a group that carries considerable diplomatic leverage. Norway and Switzerland, both non-EU states with strong traditions of humanitarian mediation, also feature among the signatories, as do the Nordic neighbours Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
What comes next for the Gaza humanitarian response
Joint statements of this nature rarely stand alone. They typically precede or accompany diplomatic lobbying at the United Nations Security Council, bilateral pressure on parties to the conflict, or announcements of increased humanitarian funding.
Whether Iceland and its co-signatories will follow the 30 December statement with concrete pledges — additional aid contributions, diplomatic initiatives, or formal referrals to international legal bodies — remains to be seen. Officials have not yet indicated a timeline for any follow-up action.
The statement is the latest indication that the group of ten intend to maintain a coordinated posture on Gaza into 2026, and further joint action among the signatories is considered likely as conditions in the territory continue to draw international scrutiny.
Original source: Government of Iceland — News
