LONDON (The Thursday Times) — The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom urged Israel on Sunday to “stop the delays now” and let humanitarian aid into Gaza, saying 150,000 tents and other vital supplies were being held at the border as winter approached.
In a joint statement, the ministers called conditions in Gaza “dire” and said recent floods had brought further suffering, adding that this was “only the first storm of the winter”. They said the situation was “entirely reversible” and that there was still time to act before the winter fully set in.
What the four governments asked for
The ministers said the crossings must be opened and the tents allowed in. They also asked for “immediate, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza”, and for dual-use items needed for humanitarian operations and early recovery to be allowed to enter. They urged all parties to implement the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, respect the ceasefire, and meet their obligations under international humanitarian law.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians were left in waterlogged and damaged tents after storms last week, and reports say at least four people were killed as rain and wind battered the shelters. The EU made a similar call on Saturday, as it urged Israel to reopen all crossings.
Australian cabinet minister Madeleine King told ABC radio on Monday that the four countries had worked on the statement for some time, so that people affected by the war could receive the assistance they need.
