Extract from ABC News
A joint statement from Australia, Britain, Canada and their European allies says "urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation" in the Palestinian enclave. (Reuters: Hatem Khaled)
In short:
Australia, Britain, Canada and their European allies have called on Israel to allow aid into Gaza in a joint statement.
The statement released on Tuesday said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza had reached "unimaginable levels."
What's next?
The statement concluded calling for a ceasefire that can end the war and for hostages to be released.
Australia and 23 other countries have urgently called on Israel to allow aid into Gaza as the humanitarian crisis reaches "unimaginable levels".
A joint statement, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, condemns the politicisation of aid, saying "urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation" in the Palestinian enclave.
"We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO (nongovernmental organisations) aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating," the statement read.
"Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners.
"All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment.
"Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected."
Palestinians have scrambled to collect aid supplies from trucks that entered through Israel, in Khan Younis, this week. (Reuters: Hatem Khaled)
The statement was signed by allies including Britain, Canada, France, Japan and the European Union.
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and two other members of the European Commission also signed the statement.
Some EU member countries, including Germany and Hungary, did not sign it.
It added that the countries remained grateful to the US, Qatar and Egypt for their efforts in "pushing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace."
"We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered," the statement concluded.
Late last week, the Israeli security cabinet voted in favour of a proposal put forward by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to enter the population hub, in a move likely to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
More than 60,000 people have been killed in the war so far, according to Palestinian authorities, including large numbers of women and children.
Gaza's Health Ministry says 217 people have died of starvation, including 100 children.
Israel disputes those figures but does not provide its own data to refute it, and the United Nations says the death toll is largely accurate, if not conservative.
The war began after militant group Hamas carried out a cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
The joint call to action also follows Australia's move to recognise a state of Palestine at the next United Nations meeting in September, with a condition that Hamas play no role in its future governance.
The Coalition has vowed to revoke the recognition if elected in three years, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strengthened his criticism of Mr Netanyahu, labelling him "in denial" about the consequences of the war in Gaza.
No comments:
Post a Comment