International Outcry Mounts Over Gaza Aid Crisis; Major Diplomatic Bloc Condemns Israel

A broad coalition of Western diplomatic chiefs and the European Union Commissioner Lahbib have issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s handling of humanitarian aid in Gaza, following reports of over 100 people killed while seeking assistance and Israel’s announcement of a new offensive in central Gaza.

The joint statement, signed by foreign ministers from dozens of nations including Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany (through a separate communication), Japan, the UK, and Australia, directly refutes Israel’s claims regarding the incidents. Israel’s foreign ministry had stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) fired warning shots to remove an immediate threat and disputed the casualty figures, blaming Hamas for seeking to create friction.

However, the international statement asserted that “The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity.” It further declared, “The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable” and demanded Israel comply with international humanitarian law.

Notably, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, did not sign the collective statement, reflecting Washington and Berlin’s consistent support for Israel throughout the ongoing 22-month conflict in Gaza, which began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.

Despite not signing the joint statement, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul communicated his “deepest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation” to his Israeli counterpart, urging urgent implementation of agreements to facilitate humanitarian aid.

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