A European statement says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating and the needs of civilians are at their peak

The European Union called on the Israeli government on Tuesday to amend the law governing the registration of international non-governmental organizations, stressing that it constitutes a serious obstacle to the work of humanitarian organizations in the occupied Palestinian territory and threatens the continued delivery of vital aid to the civilian population.

A joint statement issued by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuić, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Haja Lahbib, affirmed that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating dangerously as the suffering of civilians continues.

The statement indicated that the legal and administrative restrictions imposed on international organizations could force many of them to leave the region.

It warned that the withdrawal of humanitarian organizations would halt the delivery of life-saving aid, including food, medicine, water, and shelter, at a time when humanitarian needs are at their highest levels, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The European Union urged the Israeli government to take immediate and sustained steps to ensure safe and substantial humanitarian access through all available crossings and routes.

The statement also called for the removal of all obstacles hindering the work of international organizations and their partners, including UN agencies.

It noted that the continuation of current restrictions exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, particularly given the harsh winter conditions and the deterioration of basic infrastructure, increasing the suffering of civilians and undermining international efforts to alleviate the crisis.

This European stance comes in the context of repeated calls from the international community for the Israeli occupation to respect international humanitarian law and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid without conditions or restrictions that prevent it from reaching those most in need.

A European statement says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating and the needs of civilians are at their peak.