The UK, France and Germany have warned of blockades that violate humanitarian laws on aid risk in response to Israel’s demands in favour of ceasefire conditions.
The blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip, announced last week by Israel, is at risk of violating international humanitarian law, three European foreign ministers said in a statement.
In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the UK, France and Germany called on Israeli governments to comply with international obligations and to “ensure full, prompt, safe and unhindered aid of humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s population.”
Israel blocked entry to Gaza on Sunday hours after the first phase of its ceasefire agreement with Palestinian groups, causing fear of hunger and more difficulties in the holy month of Ramadan, which began over the weekend.
“The goods and supplies that enter Gaza have been suspended, just as what was announced by the Israeli government risks violating international humanitarian law,” the three ministers said.
“Humanitarian aid should never be conditioned on a ceasefire or used as a political tool,” the statement added, urging all parties to support the ceasefire.
Separately, on Wednesday, five European members of the UN Security Council, including the UK and France, called on Israel to “quickly pour humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip,” urging political parties to “find a path to the next phase of the ceasefire agreement and hostage release deal.”
Rights groups accused Israel of crimes against humanity and violations of international law to block aid in Gaza. Nearly 50,000 Palestinians have been killed, and 70% of Gaza’s buildings and roads have been damaged after 15 months of non-stop Israeli artillery fire.
Hamas accused Israel of abolishing it in a ceasefire that ended the Gaza War. Israel is now hoping to extend the first phase of the transaction for 50 days instead of entering the second phase, as originally agreed. Israel was to withdraw its troops from the Philadelphi Corridor at the end of the first phase on March 1, but refused to do so. Trump’s Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkoff is reportedly expected to visit the area in the coming days to end the deadlock.
The desperate need for assistance
On Wednesday, the World Food Programme (WFP) said the Palestinian enclave has food supplies to keep public kitchens and bakeries open within two weeks.
Reported from Gaza, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said the aid lockdown “has had a major negative impact on the entire Gaza Strip.”
“People are hungry here…and the market is running out,” he said.
“You can see that many of the items that were once available and common, such as flour, medicines and other basic essentials, are expensive or unavailable.”
Rosalia Boren, a spokesman for the UN Children’s Agency, said the humanitarian block, which includes vaccines and ventilators, which “has devastating real consequences” for children and their parents, said the humanitarian block.
“If we can’t bring it in, routine vaccinations will stagnate,” she said. “This is a real result because the newborn unit cannot care for preterm babies.
Boren, who is in Gaza, said existing supplies have already been distributed primarily throughout the enclave.
“The first stage of the ceasefire wasn’t a pause of hostilities. It was truly a lifeline for the families here,” she added. “I’m feeling very depressed here. The family I’m talking to is deeply concerned about what the future holds.”
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