Australia and 23 other countries have issued an urgent appeal to Israel to permit the delivery of aid into Gaza, warning that the humanitarian crisis has reached “unimaginable levels.” According to ABC, the joint statement, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, condemned the politicisation of aid and said “urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation” in the Palestinian enclave. “We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGOs aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating,” the statement read. “Immediate, per

Australia and 23 other countries have issued an urgent appeal to Israel to permit the delivery of aid into Gaza, warning that the humanitarian crisis has reached “unimaginable levels.” According to

ABC,

the joint statement, signed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, condemned the politicisation of aid and said “urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation” in the Palestinian enclave. “We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGOs aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating,” the statement read. “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.” The statement was co-signed by allies including Britain, Canada, France, Japan, and the European Union, whose foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and two other European Commission members also added their names. Some EU states, including Germany and Hungary, declined to sign. The signatories expressed gratitude to the US, Qatar, and Egypt for their efforts “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 concluded. The appeal comes just days after Israel’s security cabinet approved a proposal from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send the military into a densely populated area, a move expected to displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. According to Palestinian authorities, more than 60,000 people have been killed in the war so far, including large numbers of women and children. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that 217 people have died of starvation, among them 100 children. Israel disputes the figures but has not provided its own data, while the United Nations says the death toll is largely accurate, if not conservative. The war began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials.

Australia’s Political Stance

The joint call also comes in the wake of Australia’s announcement that it will recognise a Palestinian state at the next United Nations meeting in September, with the condition that Hamas plays no role in its future governance. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has vowed that a Coalition government would revoke that recognition if elected in three years. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has escalated his criticism of Mr Netanyahu, accusing him of being “in denial” about the consequences of the war in Gaza.

Also Read: 

A little more informed. A little more connected.