Four countries press Israel to release Gaza’s winter aid supplies

Australia, Canada, the UK and Italy have urged Israel to let winter shelter and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza, warning that flooding has worsened an already dire situation. Their joint statement says the crisis can still be eased if aid access is restored before winter fully sets in.

The ministers say 150,000 tents and other supplies are being held at the border, and called for crossings to open and for items needed for humanitarian work and early recovery to be admitted. Recent storms have flooded or damaged tents, left thousands without shelter and destroyed sanitation infrastructure; at least four Palestinian children and a woman were killed. The ministers also called on all parties to respect the ceasefire and international humanitarian law.