Germany, France and UK demand access to Gaza Strip for aid deliveries

Germany, France and the United Kingdom have called on Israel to lift its blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been in place for more than 50 days.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the three nations warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the sealed-off territory.

“Palestinian civilians – including 1 million children – face an acute risk of starvation, epidemic disease and death. This must end,” the statement read.

“Humanitarian aid must never be used as a political tool ... Israel is bound under international law to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid.”

The governments demanded Israel grant United Nations agencies and humanitarian organizations safe access to Gaza. They also warned that Hamas must not divert aid for its own benefit or use civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

The three countries further condemned recent remarks by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who suggested Israel should permanently occupy Gaza. “The Palestinian territories should neither be reduced in size nor demographically altered,” they said.

Israel rejected accusations that it is politicizing aid. “Israel is monitoring the situation on the ground, and there is no shortage of aid in Gaza,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein wrote on X. He stated that Israel is only obligated to provide aid if civilians are not being adequately supplied — a claim that contradicts statements from the UN and aid organizations.

Marmorstein also accused the three European governments of equating Israel with Hamas. He said Hamas initiated the war with its October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel and bears responsibility for its continuation and for Palestinian suffering.

UN: Gaza facing 'worst humanitarian crisis' since war began

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Gaza is “likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis” since the conflict began more than a year and a half ago.

A report by OCHA cited ongoing Israeli military operations, the blockade of aid, attacks on aid workers and severe movement restrictions.

According to a recent survey, nearly all of the 43 international and Palestinian aid organizations operating in Gaza have been forced to suspend or significantly scale back operations since Israeli attacks resumed on March 18. The UN estimates that around half a million people have been displaced again since then.

Charity organization Oxfam reported that clean drinking water is nearly unavailable, with sanitation infrastructure inoperable due to bombings and fuel shortages. Food is scarce, prices have soared, and emergency generators are rarely functioning. Israel has accused Hamas of seizing aid and reselling it at inflated prices.

Israel government mulls next steps

A debate is reportedly continuing within the Israeli government over whether to intensify the attacks on Gaza, or wait for the results of indirect peace negotiations with Hamas.

At a meeting of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet on Tuesday evening, the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and other ministers called for a major ground offensive to completely destroy Hamas, Israeli media reported.

However, the broadcaster Kan reported, citing a senior government representative, that other Israeli officials wanted to give the indirect negotiations with Hamas on a new ceasefire another chance.

The last ceasefire phase ended a month ago. Israeli armed forces then resumed their attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Israel says 24 hostages are still being held in Gaza, as well as the bodies of 35 people kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack. About 1,200 people were killed in Israeli communities and more than 250 Israelis taken hostage.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority in the Gaza Strip, more than 51,200 people have been killed since then. The figures do not distinguish between civilian and militant deaths.

Abbas demands release of hostages

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called on the Islamist organization Hamas to release the hostages it is holding.

Speaking at a gathering in Ramallah on Wednesday, Abbas said that ending the Gaza war was the top priority. The president referred to Hamas as "sons of dogs."

"Hand over those you are holding and end this situation," he demanded.

He further stated that Israel must not be given any pretext to continue the war, adding that hundreds of Palestinians are being killed every day in the Gaza war.

Hamas meanwhile released a video of 48-year-old Israeli hostage Omri Miran, who has been held in the Gaza Strip for a year and a half.

"Our Omri is strong and will not break, but our hearts are broken,” his family said in a statement issued through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

"We will not give up. We will continue to fight until Omri returns to us, especially to his two daughters, who are waiting with all their hearts to hold him again."