Middle East: 'Unimaginable' suffering in Gaza, say ministers – DW – 08/12/2025
"The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels," read a statement signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
"Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicized," the ministers stressed.
The statement, which was also signed by European Union figures, criticized "restrictive new registration requirements" which it said were preventing international NGOs from distributing aid.
"We call on the government of Israel to provide authorization for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating," it read.
The signatories called for a "ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered."
Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Tuesday, August 12.
A group of 24 foreign ministers from around the world have called for urgent action as the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate as a result of Israeli restrictions on aid.
Meanwhile, Israel's ambassador to Germany says diplomatic ties with Berlin strained after a curb on weapons exports.
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11 hours ago
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