Gaza, May 20 (HS): In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, 22 countries have urged Israel to immediately permit the full and uninterrupted supply of humanitarian assistance, rather than a limited restoration in Gaza. These countries have issued a joint statement on the matter, which clearly outlines two main demands from the Israeli government.
The joint statement says that existing aid organizations have the willingness and capability to resume humanitarian operations in Gaza, and they will not support any model for delivering aid under a new system.
The statement reads, As a humanitarian donor group, we urge the Israeli government in unequivocal terms: The full restoration of humanitarian assistance in Gaza must be ensured immediately, and the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations should be allowed to operate freely, fairly, and without interruption, so that lives can be saved, suffering can be alleviated, and the dignity of people can be upheld.
The foreign ministers of several countries who signed this joint statement include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom (UK).
Limited restoration of assistance deemed ‘insufficient’
The statement labeled Israel’s recently announced decision for limited restoration of assistance as inadequate. These countries assert that this step is insufficient given the current humanitarian situation and does not lead to a sustainable solution.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the displacement of thousands of civilians, with severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and basic services. The international community has repeatedly called on Israel and other parties to open humanitarian aid corridors.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
