By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL – On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK condemned Israel’s continuing blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza while calling on Israel to immediately restore unhindered aid access. The three nations also pushed for renewing the ceasefire, warning of further dire consequences if the blockade is allowed to continue. So far, the Trump administration has not stepped up to condemn the blockade nor has any action been taken to by the White House to reign in Netanyahu’s far-right government on getting the remainder of the hostages out of Gaza. In a joint statement from the three countries, they pointed out that “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.” In the statement, they also highlighted that during the almost two-month ceasefire that initially began in January, aid was delivered at scale by the U.N. and international NGOs. The ministers also said the current situation in Gaza is “intolerable” and sharply criticized Israel’s Defense Minister Katz’s recent comments and plans about Israeli extending its presence in Gaza after the war. In their statement, the ministers said: “Minister Katz’s recent comments politicizing humanitarian aid and Israeli palns to remain in Gaza after the war are unacceptable – they harm prospects for peace.”
The ministers further stated: “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.” The ministers’ statement also underscored that humanitarian work is neutral and insisted that aid must be permitted to reach those in need not based on political or military developments. As their statement read: “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 organizations to operate safely across Gaza.” They also expressed their condemnation of Israeli strikes targeting humanitarian and medical personnel as well as infrastructure. They stated: “We reiterate our outrage at recent strikes by Israeli forces on humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, premises and healthcare facilities,” adding “Israel must do much more to protect the civilian population, infrastructure and humanitarian workers.” The ministers are calling for the restoration of humanitarian deconfliction mechanisms and for Israel to permit aid workers to move freely and for medical evacuations to resume. The ministers repeated the call for end to all hostilities and a comprehensive political solution and said of Israel: “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.”
