EU and 24 Countries Issue Joint Statement on Gaza: Suffering Beyond Imagination

Kokcha News Agency: The European Union and 24 countries have released a joint statement addressing the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The statement reads, “The scale of human suffering in Gaza is beyond imagination. Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Immediate action is needed to stop and reverse this hunger. The humanitarian space must be protected, and aid must never be politicized.”

The statement calls on Israel to remove obstacles to humanitarian aid, noting that restrictive new registration requirements by Israel could force major international NGOs to leave the occupied Palestinian territories soon, which would further worsen the humanitarian situation. “We call on the Israeli government to allow all international NGO aid shipments and remove barriers to the operations of essential humanitarian actors,” the statement added.

It emphasized that all crossings and routes must be utilized to ensure the flow of aid into Gaza. “Lethal force must not be used in distribution areas, and civilians, humanitarian workers, and healthcare personnel must be protected,” the statement said.

The statement also expressed gratitude to the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt for their efforts towards a ceasefire. “We need a ceasefire to end the war, the release of hostages, and unimpeded land access for aid into Gaza,” it concluded.

The joint statement was 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 the United Kingdom, as well as the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica, and EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib.