By Janet Ekstract, NEW YORK – On July 21, The UK, Japan and Canada joined 25 nations in a joint statement calling on the Israeli government to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid and to urgently enable the U.N. and humanitarian NGOs to do their life-saving work safely and effectively.” The statement further condemned the continuing hostage detention situation in Gaza by Hamas, demanding an “immediate and unconditional release” of all hostages being held in Gaza and that a negotiated ceasefire is “the best hope of bringing them home.” The statement which was signed by the EU Commissioner for Equality Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib was also signed by the foreign ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. All signatories said they “strongly oppose any steps towards territorial or demographic change in the Occupied Palestinian Territories” while stating Israel’s plan to move Palestinians to a supposed “humanitarian city” is unacceptable. Particularly vexing are the deaths at aid distribution centers where Israeli forces have repeatedly fired on Palestinians as they wait in line for aid, according to multiple credible sources on the ground and eyewitnesses at those centers.
Australian and Canadian foreign ministers wrote: “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths,” while they also condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food.” The joint statement said that the recent deaths of more than 800 Palestinians seeking aid was “horrifying” with figures verified and released Gaza’s Health Ministry and the U.N. human rights office. Countries further stated in their joint declaration that “The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity,’ adding “The Israeli government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law.” While Israel and the U.S. continue to deny reports coming out of multiple reports on the ground in the Gaza Strip, both nations accuse Hamas of refusing to accept an Israeli-backed proposal for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein posted on X: “Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides.” Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee rejected premises from the joint statement, labeling it “disgusting” in a post on X.” While Germany did not join other nations in the joint statement, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated on X that he spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Starr on July 21 to express his “greatest concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza – calling on Israel to implement agreements with the EU to allow more humanitarian aid to get through.
More than six months ago, the Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP) Cindy McCain had warned of imminent starvation and a blockade on aid by Israel – cautioning mass starvation if countries did not step up to insist that Israel comply with its humanitarian obligations. Currently, more than 2 million Palestinians are in the middle of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis where aid is severely limited and 90% of the populace has been displaced and forced to flee multiple times. Most of the food aid Israel has allowed into Gaza goes to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) an American group supported by Israel who has been accused of blatantly firing on and killing hundreds of Palestinians along with Israeli forces who are also accused of firing on those waiting for aid, according to eyewitnesses and health officials. According to accounts and video obtained by The Associated Press (AP), American contractors guarding aid distribution sites in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades on Palestinians as they seek food aid. Meanwhile, two U.S. contractors speaking on condition of anonymity to the AP, told them that they came forward to report what they said are dangerous and irresponsible practices. The two U.S. contractors said that security staff that was hired are unqualified, unvetted, heavily armed and appeared to have permission to do whatever they wanted. One contractor revealed to the AP: “There are innocent people being hurt. Badly. Needlessly.” Videos were provided to the AP as evidence and one contractor revealed that American staff at the sites monitor those seeking food aid, document anyone considered to be “suspicious” and then report findings to the Israeli military.
According to sources, the U.S. has funded the GHF with $30 million to continue its operations while its other sources of revenue remain unknown. Journalists have not been allowed access to GHF sites located in Israeli military-controlled zones so the AP is unable to independently verify what the contractors have said. The logistics company subcontracted by GHF, Safe Reach Solutions, told the AP there have been no serious injuries at any of their sites, to date. They claim there were scattered incidents of live fire in order to control mass crowds rushing for aid but contrary to such reports are the multitude of reports and video that show Palestinians being fired upon as they rush to seek aid. Prior to GHF coming on board in May 2025, for almost three months, Israel blocked all food, water and medicine from entering Gaza, claiming that Hamas was stealing aid being transported under a preexisting system coordinated by the U.N. Israel’s aim is to replace U.N. humanitarian aid services with the GHF who employ armed personnel with the U.N. said its Gaza operations do not involve armed guards.Though GHF claims it has experienced personnel on the ground and has engaged compassionately with the Palestinian population, contractor reports along with verified video and audio footage, paint a very different scenario.
