Simon Harris joins international allies urging Israel to lift Gaza aid blocks

Ireland’s deputy premier has joined the UK, Australia and other European states in calling on Israel to allow unrestricted aid into Gaza, describing the humanitarian suffering as “unimaginable”.

In a joint statement signed by the foreign ministers of 24 countries, they said famine is “unfolding before our eyes”.

The joint statement comes a day after Simon Harris, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke with his EU counterparts on Monday about the situation in Gaza.

“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes,” the statement said.

“Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.

“However, due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international NGOs (non-governmental organisations) may be forced to leave the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories) imminently, which would worsen the humanitarian situation still further.

“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating.

“Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs and humanitarian partners.

“All crossings and routes must be used to allow a flood of aid into Gaza, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine and medical equipment.

“Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected.

“We are grateful to the US, Qatar and Egypt for their efforts in pushing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace. We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.”

The statement has been signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

The EU high representative for foreign affairs Kaja Kallas, as well as the EU commissioner for the Mediterranean and the EU commissioner for equality also signed the document.

However, a number of EU member countries, including Germany and Hungary, did not add their signatures.

Meanwhile, former Irish president Mary Robinson expressed “shock and outrage” over mass starvation in Gaza.

She said: “Governments that are not using all the tools at their disposal to halt the unfolding genocide in Gaza are increasingly complicit.”

Ms Robinson said political leaders have the power and legal obligation to apply measures which would put pressure on the Israeli government.

“This is all the more urgent in light of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Gaza City takeover plan,” she said.

Ms Robinson said US President Donald Trump must use his “leverage to compel a change of course”.

She made the comments in a joint statement with former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark after they visited the Rafah Crossing with The Elders group.

They said they saw evidence of food and medical aid being deliberately denied entry into Gaza by Israel, describing the situation as an “unfolding genocide”.