BERLIN: UK, France, and Germany on Friday demanded that the “humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip must end now, as the war-hit Palestinian territory grapples with a worsening crisis.
“We call on the Israeli government to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and urgently allow the UN and humanitarian NGOs to carry out their work in order to take action against starvation,” they said in a joint statement released by Berlin.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that “the most basic needs of the civilian population, including access to water and food, must be met without any further delay”.
“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” they said.
“Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.”
More than 100 aid and human rights organisations issued a warning this week that “mass starvation” is spreading across Gaza, nearly 22 months into the ongoing conflict.
Israel has denied responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has described as “man-made.”
In March, Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, easing it only partially two months later. The move also sidelined the long-established UN-led aid distribution system.
The European leaders also stressed that “the time has come to end the war in Gaza.
“We urge all parties to bring an end to the conflict by reaching an immediate ceasefire.”
“We stand ready to take further action to support an immediate ceasefire and a political process that leads to lasting security and peace for Israelis, Palestinians, and the entire region,” they said.
Israel’s offensive against Gaza has killed a total of 59,676 Palestinians and injured 143,965 others since October 7, 2023, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Of these, at least 80 Palestinians, including nine aid seekers, have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, with 467 others injured.
