24 countries call for urgent action in Gaza, saying humanitarian crisis reaching ‘unimaginable levels’

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached “unimaginable levels,” Britain, Canada, Australia, Japan and 20 of their European allies say, calling on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

“Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation,” the foreign ministers of 24 countries say in a joint statement.

“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorization for all international NGO (non-governmental organizations) aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating,” the statement demands.

“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 hunger spreading in Gaza, accusing Hamas of stealing aid shipments and the UN of failing to deliver supplies in a timely manner.  However, in response to a rising international uproar, Israel late last month announced steps to let more aid into the enclave, including pausing fighting for part of the day in some areas, announcing protected routes for aid convoys, and allowing supplies to be airdropped into the Strip.

Western capitals, however, say much more aid is needed.

The statement is signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and two other members of the European Commission also signed the statement.

Some EU member countries, including Germany and Hungary, did not sign it.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.