LONDON, December 30, 2025 (WAFA) - The United Kingdom, Canada, France, and several European and Asian nations expressed on Tuesday their serious concerns about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling on Israel to take urgent action.
“We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom express serious concerns about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza which remains catastrophic,” said a joint statement published by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The statement read: “As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping. 1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and face shortages of essential medical equipment and supplies. The total collapse of sanitation infrastructure has left 740,000 people vulnerable to toxic flooding.”
The joint statement called on Israel to ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza in a sustained and predictable way, and ensure the UN and its partners can continue their vital work. “This is essential to ensure the impartial, neutral, and independent delivery of aid throughout the whole of Gaza. This includes UNRWA, which provides essential services, such as healthcare and education, to millions of Palestinian refugees.”
They also called on Israel to lift the unreasonable restrictions on imports considered to have a dual use. “This includes urgently needed medical and shelter equipment. The restrictions are holding up essential supplies in every sector and preventing the rehabilitation and repair of critical infrastructure.”
The statement further urged Israel to open crossings and boost the flows of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“We now urge the Government of Israel to remove these humanitarian access constraints, and to deliver and honour the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. This is necessary for an effective humanitarian response, successful recovery and reconstruction and lasting peace and stability.”
A.D./T.R.
