New appeal from EU and other countries: Israel to let humanitarian aid into Gaza

Brussels – Humanitarian aid must have unconditional access to Gaza. A coalition of 26 countries and the European Commission demands this.

“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating,” states the message addressed to the government in Tel Aviv, as the number of deaths from malnutrition and injuries caused by Israeli bombardments in Gaza keeps rising.

According to this coalition, “immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners. 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 26 countries and the EU warn that “lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected.” What is needed now is “a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered”. 

The declaration was signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. On behalf of the EU, Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Policy, Dubravka Šuica, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, and Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, signed the agreement.