Eighteen Foreign Ministers Demand Israel Lift Aid Restrictions After Hospital Strike

Foreign ministers from eighteen nations issued a joint statement on Saturday condemning an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. The ministers described the attack in the strongest terms, asserting that it violated international humanitarian law. They further urged Israel to lift current restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, the strike resulted in six deaths and multiple injuries. The casualties included patients and medical personnel. The joint statement emphasized that the attack breached international humanitarian law, which affords special protection to medical facilities and healthcare workers.

The Israeli Defense Forces and the Shin Bet stated that the strike, which occurred on Wednesday night, targeted Muhammad Abu Ismail, the commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade. As of Saturday, Israeli authorities had not confirmed whether Abu Ismail survived the operation. Notably, the joint statement from the foreign ministers did not reference Hamas or the specific tactical reason provided by the IDF for targeting the hospital.

The statement was signed by the foreign ministers of Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to the hospital strike, the ministers condemned continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, specifically citing the targeting of tents and other shelters for displaced persons.

The ministers argued that these attacks undermine the ceasefire agreement and contradict the comprehensive plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. They expressed deep concern over ongoing Israeli restrictions on the entry of tents, caravans, mobile homes, and medical supplies. The statement warned that these limitations are worsening conditions in Gaza as winter approaches.

The foreign ministers highlighted the grave risk to civilians, particularly children and infants, due to a lack of adequate shelter and deteriorating water, sanitation, and healthcare services. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that 1.4 million people in Gaza currently live in tents, representing approximately 65% of the total population in the territory.

The ministers called on Israel to immediately and fully implement its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement, President Trump’s comprehensive plan, and UN Security Council Resolution 2803. They demanded the safe, sustained, and unimpeded delivery of sufficient humanitarian aid, including shelter supplies and equipment for infrastructure rehabilitation. They also urged Israel to allow UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to operate without hindrance.

Earlier this week, the Board of Peace criticized Israel for delays in allowing humanitarian supplies to enter Gaza, stating that the response remains insufficient. The board added that these delays exacerbated the consequences of a foreseeable humanitarian challenge. In response, the IDF stated on Friday that Israel has allowed thousands of additional tents to enter the strip, bringing the total number to 93,000.

The joint statement called on the United States and the UN Security Council to intensify efforts to ensure Israel implements its commitments and lifts aid restrictions. The ministers stated that such actions are necessary to preserve the credibility of the ceasefire understandings. They reaffirmed their commitment to working with regional and international partners to consolidate the ceasefire and increase humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.