Sat May 17 11:37:59 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**International Outcry Grows as Gaza Blockade Enters Third Month, Threatening Mass Starvation**
**Gaza City/United Nations** – A group of seven European nations has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, calling for an immediate end to military operations and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The blockade, which began on March 2nd, has prevented the entry of food, medicine, and other essential supplies, pushing the 2.4 million residents of Gaza to the brink of starvation.
The joint statement from the leaders of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, and Norway expressed their deep concern over the “man-made humanitarian catastrophe” unfolding in Gaza. They urged Israel to reverse its policy, lift the blockade, and ensure the safe and rapid distribution of aid by international humanitarian organizations. The statement warned that “many more could starve to death in the coming days and weeks unless immediate action is taken.”
The Council of Europe echoed these concerns, warning of “deliberate starvation” in Gaza and the potential for Israel’s actions to fuel future conflict. Dora Bakoyannis, rapporteur for the Middle East at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, stated that “the time for a moral reckoning over the treatment of Palestinians has come – and it is long overdue.”
The escalating crisis has also prompted a strong response from the United Nations. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher dismissed a US-backed alternative aid proposal, calling for the immediate implementation of existing UN plans to deliver aid to Gaza. He emphasized that the UN has the resources, personnel, and trust of local communities to effectively distribute aid. “We demand rapid, safe, and unimpeded aid delivery for civilians in need. Let us work,” Fletcher said.
The US and Israel have been promoting a plan involving the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an NGO aiming to deliver aid via private security and logistics firms, bypassing Hamas. However, the UN has refused to cooperate, citing concerns about the plan’s impartiality and independence.
Hamas has maintained that the entry of humanitarian aid is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any truce talks with Israel. The group has stated that access to food, water, and medicine is a fundamental human right that cannot be used as a bargaining chip.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with UN agencies and humanitarian organizations warning of rapidly dwindling supplies and widespread starvation. The international community is increasing pressure on Israel to lift the blockade and allow humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need.
First Piper 