Western Foreign Ministers Criticize Israel's Handling of Gaza Aid Deliveries

A coalition of foreign ministers from Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and other allied nations has issued a joint statement criticizing Israel's management of humanitarian aid deliveries in Gaza. The statement follows reports that more than 100 people were killed by Israeli gunfire while seeking aid at distribution sites and U.N. food trucks over the weekend, coinciding with Israel's announcement of a new military offensive in central Gaza.

Israel's foreign ministry stated on social media that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had fired warning shots on Sunday in response to what it described as an immediate threat. The ministry also claimed that the reported casualty figures did not match IDF information and accused Hamas militants of attempting to create friction at aid sites. According to the ministry, the IDF considers the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza a priority and coordinates with the international community to facilitate its entry.

However, the foreign ministers' statement, signed by representatives from more than two dozen countries and EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, rejected Israel's assertions. The statement described Israel's aid delivery model as dangerous, destabilizing, and depriving Gazans of dignity. It further stated that denying essential humanitarian assistance to civilians is unacceptable and called on Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law.

Notably, the statement was not endorsed by EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul. The United States and Germany have maintained strong support for Israel during its ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023. Wadephul, however, posted on social media that he had expressed "deepest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation" to his Israeli counterpart and urged Israel to implement agreements with the EU to facilitate humanitarian aid.