The foreign ministers of eight Arab and Islamic countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar urged on Friday the international community to pressure Israel to lift constraints on the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement the eight countries “expressed their deepest concern regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which has been exacerbated by severe, harsh, and unstable weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and storms, and compounded by the continued lack of sufficient humanitarian access, acute shortages of essential life-saving supplies, and the slow pace of the entry of essential materials required for the rehabilitation of basic services and the establishment of temporary housing.”
They "urged the international community to pressure Israel, as the occupying power, to immediately lift the constraints on the entry and distribution of essential supplies" to Gaza.
The statement also called for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid in the Palestinian enclave through the UN and its agencies, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and hospitals, and the opening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions as stipulated in US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan.
The Rafah border crossing was set to be reopened under the ceasefire in effect in Gaza since October, but has so far remained closed.
Friday’s statement “commended the tireless efforts of all United Nations organizations and agencies, especially UNRWA, as well as humanitarian international NGOs, in continuing to assist Palestinian civilians and deliver humanitarian assistance under extremely difficult and complex circumstances.”
The eight countries “demanded that Israel ensure the UN and international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza and the West Bank in a sustained, predictable, and unrestricted manner, given their integral role in the humanitarian response in the Strip.”
“Any attempt to impede their ability to operate is unacceptable,” they added.
