Four nations urge Israel to let 150,000 tents into Gaza as winter takes hold

The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom have urged Israel to allow 150,000 tents and other vital supplies into Gaza, saying they are being held at the border as winter brings further hardship.

In a joint statement, the ministers described the humanitarian situation as dire. Recent flooding had compounded the suffering, they said, despite coming with only the first storm of the winter. People in Gaza urgently needed shelter and humanitarian assistance.

The ministers argued that the delays were entirely reversible and that there was still time to act before winter fully set in. They called on the Israeli government to open the crossings and permit immediate, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

Their appeal also covered dual-use items needed for humanitarian operations and early recovery, which they said must be allowed to enter before it was too late.

The ministers called on all parties to implement the Comprehensive Plan for Gaza, respect the ceasefire and their obligations under international humanitarian law, and allow aid to reach those who need it.