UK, EU Urge Israel to Lift Gaza Aid Blockade Amid Famine Risk

Prominent British rabbis and the UK government, along with European allies, have urgently called on Israel to lift its blockade preventing food and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, warning of a looming famine and severe humanitarian crisis. The rabbis accuse Israel of using starvation as a tool of warfare and express distress over the abandonment of hostages held by Hamas. At the United Nations, the UK, France, Denmark, Greece, and Slovenia condemned Israel's blockade as unacceptable, emphasizing that blocking aid risks avoidable deaths and undermines peace prospects. The UK government emphasized that humanitarian aid must not be used for political or military leverage and urged Israel to cooperate with the UN to ensure aid delivery aligns with humanitarian principles. They also expressed outrage over attacks on Palestinian Red Crescent workers and called for accountability. The release of an Israeli-American hostage highlighted the importance of ceasefire deals, which have facilitated hostage releases and increased aid, underscoring international calls to avoid escalating the conflict.