From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Israel rejects ‘ethically outrageous’ E3 statement demanding restart of Gaza aid
The Foreign Ministry responds to today’s joint statement by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany condemning Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, in a press release shared by the ministry’s spokesman.
“Israel is fighting Hamas, which steals humanitarian aid, uses it to rebuild its war machine, and hides behind civilians,” says the Foreign Ministry, adding that it “categorically reject[s] the claim of ‘politicization of humanitarian aid’ as stated in the E3’s statement.”
In the statement, the three nations’ foreign ministers called for the immediate resumption of aid deliveries to the Strip and criticized recent comments on the issue by Defense Minister Israel Katz. They also called for Israel to do more to protect Palestinian civilians in Gaza, for Hamas to release the remaining 59 hostages, and for all parties to return to a ceasefire.
“Article 70 of the First Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions requires aid when ‘the civilian population is not adequately supplied,’” continues the statement from the Foreign Ministry, adding, “During the 42-day ceasefire, 25,000 aid trucks entered Gaza. Israel is monitoring the situation on the ground, and there is no shortage of aid in Gaza.”
“According to Article 23 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, a side is not obliged to allow in aid if it is ‘likely to assist the military or economic efforts of the enemy.’ Hamas hijacked the humanitarian aid to rebuild its terror machine,” further states the ministry.
Instead of mentioning that “Hamas is the one targeting Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians,” the three countries “chose to accuse Israel of strikes on humanitarian personnel and healthcare facilities — this is morally twisted and wrong,” according to the press release.
The Foreign Ministry asserts that the IDF “conducts thorough and transparent investigations” in cases involving civilian casualties, and says that “all condemnations should be directed at Hamas, which hides in hospitals and behind civilians.”
“The so-called balance the E3 statement is trying to create between Israel and Hamas is ethically outrageous,” the response goes on, saying that the countries mention “only in passing the fact that Hamas still holds 59 hostages in inhumane conditions underground.”
“The war can end tomorrow if the hostages are released and Hamas lays down its weapons,” concludes the ministry.
The Times of Israel Community.