In a joint statement, the countries' foreign ministers, including Maria Malmer Stenergard (M), express "serious concern about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains catastrophic."
With winter approaching, civilians in Gaza are facing terrible conditions, including heavy rain and plummeting temperatures, the foreign ministers note in the statement.
“1.3 million people still need urgent protection,” they write.
Medical equipment
The statement has been signed by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The countries also call on Israel to allow the UN and its partners to continue working in the area and to lift "unreasonable" restrictions on the import of goods that can be considered to have both civilian and military use (dual-use).
“This includes urgently needed medical equipment and protective gear.”
Finally, Israel is urged to open border crossings and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Stop for aid organizations
Israel has announced that several humanitarian organizations may be barred from conducting their activities in Gaza from the beginning of the year, including Doctors Without Borders.
The responsible ministry says that the organizations are not complying with new rules for work in Gaza and points out that requirements to share information about funding and personnel have not been met, AP reports.
“At a time when civilians in Gaza are still facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, the threat of deregistration for a majority of our international non-governmental partners is deeply concerning,” Malmer Stenergard writes in a post on X.
