European officials, alongside 26 foreign ministers, advocate for non-governmental organizations to gain entry to the Gaza region
The current situation for humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza remains dire and complex, with a flood of aid desperately needed to alleviate the suffering of its population. A joint declaration, issued by three EU Commissioners, including EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, and the Foreign Ministers of most EU countries, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK, calls for all border crossings and routes into Gaza to be utilized to facilitate the delivery of much-needed aid.
However, aid deliveries have been severely constrained, with over 88% of aid trucks destined for Gaza being looted en route by armed groups since late May 2025. This drastic looting has limited the effective distribution of aid, resulting in a steep 74% drop in the number of meals prepared daily compared to April's capacity.
Clashes near aid distribution points and convoys have caused thousands of casualties among Palestinians seeking food, with UN reports documenting over 1,370 deaths since May, mostly attributed to Israeli military actions. The occupied Palestinian territory has become the deadliest place for aid workers globally in 2025, with over 70 aid workers killed in the first half of the year, and Palestinians making up a disproportionate share of these fatalities.
In response, humanitarian partners have managed to prepare about 259,000 meals daily as of early August 2025, a stark contrast to the over one million meals per day capacity in April. Aid entry points at Zikim and Kerem Shalom crossings are operational, yet safety and access remain critical concerns due to violence on routes and looting.
The international community, including the United Nations, numerous humanitarian organizations, and representatives from 26 Western countries and the EU Commission, are urging immediate and permanent access to the Palestinian territory in Gaza to prevent a looming famine. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that there is no famine in the Gaza Strip, but his statements suggest that the aid provided by Israel is not effectively reaching the civilian population due to the presence of hostages held by Hamas.
Netanyahu has also stated that Israel has "flooded" the Gaza Strip with aid, but the only ones going hungry are the hostages held by Hamas. The representatives have demanded that the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, and humanitarian actors be granted immediate and permanent access to the Palestinian territory in Gaza to deliver essential items such as food, shelter, fuel, clean water, and medicine.
Urgent action is needed to stop the unfolding famine and ensure safe, reliable, and independent aid delivery mechanisms amid ongoing conflict pressures. The international community maintains its aid efforts and advocacy for humanitarian access, yet the situation deteriorates with escalating casualties among civilians and aid workers, underscoring an urgent need for a resolution to this ongoing crisis.
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