The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and the European Union Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, signed the following declaration:
"The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is spreading before our eyes. Urgent action is needed to halt and reverse hunger. Humanitarian spaces must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.
However, due to the restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs may be forced to leave the occupied Palestinian territories imminently, further worsening the humanitarian situation. We urge the Israeli government to authorise all aid shipments by international NGOs and to allow essential humanitarian actors to carry out their work. Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe and large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners. All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid to Gaza, including food, food supplements, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicines and medical equipment. Lethal force cannot be used at distribution points, and civilians, humanitarian personnel and health workers must be protected.
We thank the United States, Qatar and Egypt for their ceasefire and peace efforts. We need a cessation of hostilities to end the war, the release of the hostages and the unimpeded flow of aid overland into Gaza."
Non official translation
Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation