Fifty countries and three international organizations have issued a joint appeal demanding that Israeli authorities open all border crossings leading to the Gaza Strip without obstruction. The signatories, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, France, Canada, and Japan, alongside the European Commission, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, called for the unrestricted entry of humanitarian and medical supplies.
The statement, titled “Call to Action,” was read on Thursday by Sarah Macintosh, the UK’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, acting on behalf of the coalition. This initiative is led by Britain, Qatar, and Jordan. On Friday, Hija L Habib, the European Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Preparedness, announced her region’s participation, emphasizing the urgent need to improve living conditions as winter approaches.
According to the text, the demand aligns with the comprehensive peace plan approved by the UN Security Council under Resolution 2803. This resolution mandates the full and immediate entry of aid into Gaza at levels not lower than those agreed upon on January 19, 2025. The signatories noted that this commitment remains unfulfilled despite the existence of political will to enhance the situation.
Hija L Habib highlighted via social media platform X that many Palestinian families still lack adequate shelter despite the ceasefire agreement. She stressed the necessity of allowing aid quantities sufficient to meet the needs of displaced persons, specifically citing fuel, water, and housing materials. The statement warned of severe health risks associated with winter, including hypothermia, respiratory infections, and waterborne diseases.
The coalition urged the incoming Israeli government to activate humanitarian corridors through Egypt and Jordan. They also requested permission to import dual-use items essential for survival, such as sanitation equipment and medical supplies. Furthermore, the document called for the resumption of transferring patients and wounded individuals who cannot be treated within Gaza to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Protecting medical facilities, ambulances, and humanitarian workers was cited as a priority under international humanitarian law. The signatories demanded swift and transparent criminal investigations into attacks targeting these sectors. They also called for allowing high-level international delegations and journalists access to the strip.
The statement affirmed support for the Palestinian Authority and cooperation with the Transitional National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the United Nations, and humanitarian partners to restore health services and rehabilitate infrastructure. It emphasized enabling the UN, its agencies, and neutral organizations like the Red Cross and Red Crescent to deliver aid without barriers.
The conflict, which began in October 2023 with US support for Israel, has resulted in significant casualties and infrastructure damage. According to the source, more than 74 thousand Palestinians have been killed and over 175 thousand injured, mostly women and children. Approximately 90 percent of the sector’s infrastructure has been destroyed since the war started.
