Germany urges Israel to allow more aid deliveries by land to Gaza

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Thursday warned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and called on Israel to allow more aid deliveries by land.

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told a news conference in Berlin that they were “gravely” concerned about the humanitarian situation and a “looming famine” in north Gaza.

“More aid must come to Gaza from all directions, we are therefore financing land transports, supporting aid sea bridge, and now also helping from the air,” she said, after talks with her Norwegian counterpart.

“It is important that we are doing this, however, it also shows that currently far too little aid is coming to Gaza by land. We must finally make progress here. The Israeli government must urgently do more to achieve this,” Baerbock stressed.

She also reiterated her call for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, in order to enable the release of hostages, and deliver life-saving food aid, medicine and other supplies to Gaza.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which 1,163 people were killed.

More than 31,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and over 73,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.