The foreign ministers of Greece, Australia, and Cyprus were among 24 countries that on Tuesday, August 12, condemned the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging Israel to allow unrestricted aid into the enclave.
“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,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
They called on Israel “to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating.”
The statement urged 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.”
Israel has denied responsibility for the hunger in Gaza, accusing Hamas of stealing aid, a claim Hamas denies.
Last month, Israel announced measures to increase aid deliveries, including daily pauses in fighting in some areas and protected routes for convoys, but Western governments say far more is needed.
The appeal was also signed by foreign ministers from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Japan, and other nations, along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and two European Commission members. Germany and Hungary did not sign.
The ministers also expressed gratitude to the US, Qatar, and Egypt for pushing for a ceasefire, saying: “We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.”
Source: Ekathimerini.
