Twenty-four countries, including the UK, Canada, and Australia, have issued a joint statement warning that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached “unprecedented levels,” and called on Israeli Occupation authorities to lift all barriers preventing the entry of aid into the besieged Palestinian territory.
The statement, released Tuesday by foreign ministers of the signatory states, stressed the rapidly worsening famine and urged immediate steps to alleviate hunger among Gaza’s civilian population.
It called on the Israeli Occupation to allow full access for international aid shipments and to ensure that humanitarian organizations can operate freely within the strip without interference. The ministers also demanded the opening of all crossings and routes to facilitate the delivery of food, nutritional supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine, and medical equipment.
Israeli Occupation authorities have denied responsibility for the deteriorating food situation, blaming Hamas for allegedly seizing aid shipments — accusations the group has rejected.
The list of signatories includes 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. The European Union later added Italy and Latvia to the list.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas also signed the statement, along with two other European Commissioners. Germany and Hungary declined to endorse the declaration.
