The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, together with foreign ministers from 24 countries including the UK, Canada, and France, issued a dire warning in a joint statement on Tuesday about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to restrictive Israeli measures. The statement highlighted the severe impediments NGOs face, which are hindering their ability to deliver essential life-saving aid to the region.

Amidst a deepening famine, the collective voices in the statement emphasized the urgent need to address the starvation affecting the Palestinian population. They pointed out that newly imposed "restrictive registration requirements" are not only preventing effective aid distribution but are also threatening to push critical humanitarian organizations out of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The signatories urgently called on Israel to permit unobstructed entry of all international NGO aid shipments into Gaza. They underscored the necessity for immediate and substantial action to allow safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs, and other humanitarian partners to deliver crucial supplies including food, nutrition products, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine, and medical equipment.

Since March, an Israeli-imposed aid blockade has severely curtailed the ability of international organizations, including the United Nations, to deliver vital assistance to Gaza. The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has reported a significant rise in malnutrition deaths, citing nearly 100 child fatalities due to starvation since the beginning of August. The agency stressed that the blockade, now over 150 days long, has prevented any UNRWA trucks from bringing food, medicine, or other essentials into Gaza, resulting in daily loss of lives.

Compounding the crisis, there have been reports of violence at Israel-backed aid distribution centers, where civilians seeking assistance have been targeted. The United Nations has expressed alarm over these incidents, stating that deliberately impeding access to humanitarian aid could potentially constitute war crimes under the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

The joint statement from the EU and its partners represents a significant international plea for Israel to reconsider its current policies and take immediate, enduring steps to ensure that humanitarian help can reach those in desperate need in Gaza. As the situation deteriorates, the international community watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution that prioritizes human lives and dignity over conflict.