Australia, Canada, Italy and UK urge Israel to let 150,000 tents into Gaza before winter

In brief

• Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom have jointly urged Israel to end delays in humanitarian shipments into Gaza.
• Around 150,000 tents and other essential supplies are reportedly held at the border.
• Floods have hit refugee camps as winter approaches, while a nominal ceasefire has been in place since October.

Joint call for faster aid delivery

Foreign ministers from four countries have jointly demanded that Israel end delays in getting humanitarian shipments into the Gaza Strip. Their statement, published on Monday, describes conditions on the ground as catastrophic and says the holdups need to stop without delay (Australia, UK, Canada and Italy urge Israel to allow critical aid to Gaza ahead of winter – The Guardian) (Gazastreifen - Großbritannien, Italien, Kanada und Australien fordern schnelle Hilfe – Deutschlandfunk).

Supplies held at the border

According to the statement, around 150,000 tents and other essential supplies are currently being held at the border and have not been allowed in. The ministers argue that these goods are needed before the winter season fully sets in.

Floods add to the crisis

Recent storms have caused flooding in Gaza, including in refugee camps where residents already live in tents, temporary shelters or damaged buildings. Aid groups and human rights organisations have warned that many people lack adequate protection from the weather. Children have been seen bailing water out of flooded areas in front of their tents in Gaza City.

Ceasefire in name only

A ceasefire has formally been in place since October of last year, but attacks have continued. The four governments framed the aid situation as something that can still be reversed, which is why they pressed for quick access rather than long negotiations.

Aid access in focus

The ministers asked Israel to allow humanitarian access that is immediate and free from obstruction, according to the French coverage of the statement (Gaza : Royaume-Uni, Italie, Australie et Canada appellent Israël à permettre un accès humanitaire « immédiat » et « sans entrave » dans le territoire palestinien – Le Monde). Their demand centres on getting shelter materials into the territory before the cold deepens.

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• EU urges Israel to remove obstacles to humanitarian aid in Gaza as floods and cold worsen conditions