24 Countries Urge Aid Access as Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

A coalition of 24 foreign ministers from countries including Australia, Canada, the UK, and various European nations has declared the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip to be at "unimaginable levels," warning that famine is unfolding and urgent action is needed to prevent starvation. They have called on Israel to authorize all international NGO aid shipments and to remove restrictions that block essential humanitarian operations, emphasizing that all crossings and routes should be opened to allow a substantial influx of aid including food, medicine, and medical equipment. Israel denies responsibility for the hunger crisis, attributing delays to Hamas and the UN, but has recently taken limited steps to permit more aid through partial ceasefire pauses and protected aid convoy routes. The ministers also criticized new Israeli registration requirements that threaten to force international NGOs to leave, which could further exacerbate the crisis. Despite some EU countries not signing the statement, senior EU officials joined the call for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza. These efforts come amid ongoing conflict, with Israel planning a new offensive in Gaza City and recent failures in US-backed ceasefire negotiations.