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

Palestinian children carry jerrycans after collecting water from a distribution point in Gaza City. Picture: Jehad Alshrafi/AP

Tánaiste Simon Harris has joined Britain, 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 Mr Harris, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister, spoke with his EU counterparts on Monday about the situation in Gaza.

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

“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.

Simon Harris spoke with his EU counterparts on Monday about the situation in Gaza (PA)

“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 Britain.

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.