Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union said in a statement distributed in Brussels, "Humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse the famine. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid must not be politicized.
However, due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs may soon be forced to leave the occupied Palestinian territory, potentially worsening the humanitarian situation. We call on the Government of Israel to grant permits for all international aid shipments from NGOs and to lift obstacles to essential humanitarian actors from operating. Immediate, sustained, and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe and widespread access for the United Nations, international NGOs, and humanitarian partners. All crossings and roads must be used to allow the flow of aid into Gaza, including food, nutritional supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicines, and medical equipment. Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarian workers, and medical personnel must be protected.
We express our gratitude to the United States, Qatar, and Egypt for their efforts to push for Ceasefire and the pursuit of peace. We need a ceasefire that ends the war, releases the hostages, and allows unhindered access for aid into Gaza by land. The statement concluded by noting that the signatories to this statement are:
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Among the European institutions are Foreign Policy Coordinator Kaya Kallas, European Commission Member Dubravka Suica, and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Haja Lahbib.