'Man-made crisis putting half of population of Gaza on verge of famine,' warns Belgian premier

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - Belgium’s premier on Thursday called on European leadership to address the critical situation unfolding in Gaza and warned that the “man-made crisis” is putting half of the population of Gaza on the “verge of famine."

"The situation is dramatic," Alexander De Croo told media at the doorstep of the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels.

"We see today people who are trying to feed themselves by eating grass and people who are on the verge of famine."

De Croo said that 25% of recent aid airdrops into the region were conducted by Belgium. However, he stressed that such measures, although necessary, are not a lasting solution to the crisis.

He also expressed readiness to participate in maritime corridors to aid Gaza, but reiterated that this alone would not suffice.

"The real solution is access through land," De Croo said adding: "We continue demanding that the access is given."

Turning his attention to the international community, he called on Europe to lead the efforts in addressing the crisis. He urged for clear demands for an immediate cease-fire, the release of hostages, and a commitment to negotiations toward a two-state solution.

"And Europe needs to lead and not to follow," De Croo said.

"What the United States has tabled yesterday in the Security Council as a proposal of resolution is a good example. But Europeans, we shouldn't follow; we should lead in this domain," he added.

Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 74,200 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war, now in its 167th day, 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, which in January issued an interim ruling ordering Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.