In a rare show of unified diplomacy, 29 countries and senior representatives of the European Commission issued a joint statement on Tuesday warning that the humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached “unimaginable levels,” with famine spreading rapidly and aid access severely restricted.

The declaration calls on Israel to immediately authorize all humanitarian shipments and cease the use of lethal force at aid distribution sites.

The signatories—including the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and others—emphasized that humanitarian aid must never be politicized, and urged Israel to lift restrictive registration requirements that could force essential NGOs to withdraw from the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, only 201 trucks of humanitarian aid entered the enclave between Monday and Tuesday—just 17% of the 1,200 expected. Over the past 17 days, only 1,535 trucks have arrived, far below the 10,200 needed to meet basic needs. The UN estimates Gaza requires 600 trucks daily to sustain its 2.4 million residents, amid near-total collapse of infrastructure.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned Israel’s plan to take full control of Gaza, calling it a “crime” and a continuation of policies of “genocide, starvation, and siege.” Palestinian officials have initiated urgent appeals to the UN Security Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Arab League, demanding a binding international response.

Despite public condemnations, countries like the UK and Spain have continued supplying military components to Israel. While Spain suspended new arms exports in October 2023, and the UK froze 30 out of 350 licenses in September 2024, investigative reports reveal ongoing shipments of F-35 parts, ammunition, and armored vehicle components, raising questions about the sincerity of these measures.

The joint statement also thanked Qatar and Egypt for their mediation efforts and called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unhindered land access for humanitarian aid. Amnesty International, UN agencies, and civil society groups have warned that the situation in Gaza constitutes a war crime, urging states to suspend arms transfers and impose sanctions.

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