Joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of France,
Germany and the UK on more than 50 days of Israel's block on aid
to Gaza.
"Israel has now fully blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into
Gaza for over fifty days. Essential supplies are either no longer
available or quickly running out. Palestinian civilians -
including one million children – face an acute risk of
starvation, epidemic disease and death. This must end. We urge
Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of
humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to meet the needs of all
civilians. During the last ceasefire, the UN and INGO system was
able to deliver aid at scale. The Israeli decision to block aid
from entering Gaza is intolerable. Minister Katz's recent
comments politicising humanitarian aid and Israeli plans to
remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable - they harm
prospects for peace. Humanitarian aid must never be used as a
political tool and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor
subjected to any demographic change. Israel is bound under
international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian
aid.
Humanitarians must be able to deliver aid to those who need it
most, independent of parties to the conflict and in accordance
with their humanitarian principles. Israel must ensure unhindered
access for the UN and humanitarian organisations to operate
safely across Gaza. Hamas must not divert aid for their own
financial gain or use civilian infrastructure for military
purposes.
We reiterate our outrage at recent strikes by Israeli forces on
humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, premises and healthcare
facilities. Israel must do much more to protect the civilian
population, infrastructure and humanitarian workers. This
includes restoring deconfliction systems, allowing humanitarian
workers free movement within Gaza. And Israel must prevent harm
to medical personnel and premises in the course of their military
operations. They must allow the urgent healthcare needs of the
population to be met, while allowing the sick and wounded to
temporarily leave the Gaza Strip to receive treatment.
Crucially, we urge all parties to return to a ceasefire. We
continue to call on Hamas for the immediate release of all the
remaining hostages, who are enduring terrible suffering. We must
all work towards the implementation of a two-state solution,
which is the only way to bring long-lasting peace and security to
both Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability in
the region."
