LONDON (Palestine Foundation Information Center) France, the United Kingdom and Germany Wednesday urged Israel to ensure the “unhindered” delivery of humanitarian supplies to the war-ravaged Palestinian territory of Gaza, warning against using aid as a “political tool.”
“We call on the government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza,” the countries said in a joint statement.
“A halt on goods and supplies entering Gaza such as that announced by the government of Israel would risk violating international humanitarian law,” they said.
“Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool.”
The three European nations described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic.”
A fragile ceasefire since January 19 saw an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, before Israel on Sunday announced it was blocking deliveries in violation of the truce agreement.
