A Joint statement on 12 August, 2025, on the humanitarian situation in Gaza has been signed by:
The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
Brief on the Joint Statement of Foreign Ministers on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
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Massive Humanitarian Crisis: The joint statement, issued on August 12, 2025, highlights that humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached catastrophic, unimaginable levels. Famine is “unfolding before our eyes,” and there’s an urgent need for action to halt and reverse starvation.
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Urgent Demands to Israel: The foreign ministers call on Israel to immediately authorize and facilitate the entry of all humanitarian aid, including food, nutrition supplies, shelter, fuel, clean water, medicine, and medical equipment. They demand safe, large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs, and humanitarian partners, and urge that all border crossings and routes be used to allow “a flood of aid into Gaza.” The use of lethal force at aid distribution sites must end, and civilians, humanitarians, and medical workers must be protected.
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Condemnation of Restrictions: Ministers strongly criticize new restrictive registration requirements imposed by Israel, warning these may force essential international NGOs to leave, worsening the crisis. They urge the Israeli government to unblock and authorize all international NGO aid shipments and stop policies that politicize humanitarian aid.
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Humanitarian Aid Must Be Neutral: The statement stresses that humanitarian assistance must not be politicized or linked to military or political goals. International humanitarian law must be upheld consistently, and permanent forced displacement is termed a violation of this law.
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Call for Ceasefire and Political Solution: The ministers support international mediation (citing efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt towards a ceasefire), demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and call for an end to war. They reaffirm commitment to a negotiated two-state solution as the only pathway to durable peace and stability in the region, with a unified Palestinian authority governing both Gaza and the West Bank.
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Wide International Endorsement: The joint statement has been signed by the foreign ministers of a broad coalition from across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, among other senior EU officials.
In summary, the joint statement is a unified international call for urgent, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, an immediate ceasefire, protection for civilians and aid workers, and a political resolution based on a two-state solution.
FOREIGN MINISTERS JOINT STATEMENT
