Foreign ministers from 27 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia, on Tuesday called on Israel to permit large-scale humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and to lift restrictions on the work of international relief organizations.
"The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised," the statement read.
The signatories warned that "due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs may be forced to leave the OPTs imminently which would worsen the humanitarian situation still further."
They urged the Israeli government "to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating." Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners."
The statement added that "All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment." The ministers demanded that "Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected."
The ministers also thanked the United States, Qatar and Egypt "for their efforts in pushing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace," adding: "We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered."
Signatories included the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with representatives of the European Union.
