The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and several other countries expressed “their deepest concern” regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
In a joint statement issued yesterday, the ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Egypt said the crisis has been “exacerbated by severe, harsh, and unstable weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and storms,” alongside “the continued lack of sufficient humanitarian access” and “acute shortages of essential life-saving supplies.”
They warned that delays in the entry of essential materials needed for the rehabilitation of basic services and the establishment of temporary housing are further worsening conditions on the ground.
The ministers also highlighted that the severe weather has “laid bare the fragility of existing humanitarian conditions,” particularly for the almost 1.9 million people and displaced families living in inadequate shelters.
They said that flooded camps, the collapse of damaged buildings, and exposure to cold temperatures – coupled with malnutrition – have significantly heightened risks to civilian lives, “especially among children, women, the elderly, and individuals with medical vulnerabilities.”
The foreign ministers commended “the tireless efforts of all United Nations organisations and agencies, especially UNRWA, as well as humanitarian international NGOs,” for continuing to assist Palestinian civilians under “extremely difficult and complex circumstances.”
They demanded that Israel ensure the UN and international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza and the West Bank “in a sustained, predictable, and unrestricted manner,” stressing that “any attempt to impede their ability to operate is unacceptable.”
The ministers reaffirmed “their full support for UNSCR 2803 and President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan” and expressed their intention to contribute to its implementation “with a view to ensuring the sustainability of the ceasefire, bringing an end to the war in Gaza, to secure a dignified life for the Palestinian people who have endured prolonged humanitarian suffering, and leading to a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
They stressed the urgent need to immediately initiate and scale up early recovery efforts, including “the provision of durable and dignified shelter to protect the population from the severe winter conditions.”
The statement also called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities and to pressure Israel, “as the occupying power, to immediately lift constraints on the entry and distribution of essential supplies including tents, shelter materials, medical assistance, clean water, fuel, and sanitation support.”
The ministers urged the immediate, full and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza through the UN and its agencies, the rehabilitation of infrastructure and hospitals, and the opening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions in line with President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan.
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