European nations, Canada, Japan voice 'serious concerns' about ongoing Gaza crisis

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA)—Eight European nations, Japan, and Canada on Tuesday expressed "serious concerns" about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

In a joint statement, foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK recalled the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

The statement mentioned the appalling conditions that are exacerbated by winter, noting that 1.3 million Gazans still require urgent shelter assistance.

The foreign ministers cited the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, which was published earlier in December, as evidence that the situation remains desperate.

The statement expressed their appreciation for the ceasefire in Gaza but stated that they will not lose sight of the plight of Gaza's civilian population.

It called on Israel to ensure that the UN, its partners, and NGOs can continue their vital work and lift unreasonable restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use.

The statement also called on Tel Aviv to open crossings and boost the flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"We now urge the Government of Israel to remove  these humanitarian access constraints, and to deliver and honour the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict," it added.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 71,000 Palestinians in the enclave, most of them women and children, and rendered it largely uninhabitable.