Ten countries warn Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains “Catastrophic”

Wednesday 31 December 2025 - 09:30

By: Sahili Aya

Ten countries warn Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains “Catastrophic”

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains “catastrophic,” the foreign ministers of ten countries said on Tuesday, urging Israeli authorities to ensure sustained access for humanitarian aid.

In a joint statement, the top diplomats from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom expressed deep concern over what they described as a renewed deterioration of conditions in the Palestinian territory.

According to the statement, Gaza’s population of 2.2 million continues to face severe hardship, with 1.3 million people still in urgent need of shelter. More than half of the territory’s health facilities are only partially operational, while around 1.6 million residents are experiencing acute food insecurity.

The ministers called on Israel to allow international non-governmental organizations to operate in Gaza “in a sustainable and predictable manner.” They warned that strict registration procedures imposed on NGOs have created significant uncertainty, as organizations await decisions that could determine whether they are allowed to continue their work beyond December 31.

“If international NGO operations are halted, one out of every three health facilities in Gaza would be forced to close,” the statement cautioned. Several international aid groups have already been barred from operating, including Save the Children, which supports around 120,000 children in Gaza.

While acknowledging progress toward reducing violence since the ceasefire that came into effect in October, the ministers reiterated their call for Hamas to lay down its weapons and renounce violence. They also demanded the immediate return of the remains of the last deceased hostage.