Shafaq News- London
Ten countries, including eight European states, on Tuesday expressed serious concerns over the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging Israel to take immediate action.
In a joint statement issued by the UK Foreign Office, the foreign ministers of Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland described conditions in the Gaza Strip as catastrophic.
"As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping," the statement added.
They warned, “1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support,” adding that more than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. They also highlighted that "the total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding."
Israel is to ban the licenses of 37 aid groups working in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying they failed to meet requirements under new registration rules. Well-known international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) such as ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee, and the Norwegian Refugee Council are among those that will have their licenses suspended on 1 January, with their operations to end within 60 days.
“The majority of Gaza’s population—estimated at 1.6 million people—is now experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity,” the ministers stated, emphasizing that relief efforts “continue to face significant constraints due to ongoing barriers to access.”
The offcials called on Israel to take urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing that "international NGOs must be allowed to operate predictably."
Warning that closures could disrupt healthcare and essential services, the statement emphasized that the UN and its partners, including UNRWA, must continue delivering impartial aid to civilians. It also highlighted "the need to lift restrictions on imports," including medical and shelter supplies, and to fully open border crossings to increase humanitarian flows.
The countries said removing these constraints is crucial for effective aid delivery, reconstruction, and long-term stability in Gaza.