EU calls on ‘Israel’ to lift Gaza aid restrictions as winter conditions worsen

• The EU warned that flooding and winter conditions are deepening Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
• It condemned the continued deterioration of living conditions and raised alarm over the recent strike on Nasser Hospital.
• The bloc urged ‘Israel’ to reopen all Gaza crossings and allow sustained humanitarian aid deliveries.

The European Union has warned that severe flooding, winter conditions and continued ‘Israeli’ military strikes are further worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urging ‘Israel’ to reopen all border crossings and allow the immediate and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance.

In a statement issued on behalf of the bloc, the EU reiterated its “grave concern over the persistent and devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” warning that winter conditions are “further aggravating the living conditions of an already exhausted population” and exacerbating “unsafe conditions and human suffering.”

The bloc also raised alarm over a recent airstrike on Nasser Hospital, describing it as “deeply alarming” and stressing that international humanitarian law must be respected at all times, including obligations to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, medical personnel and healthcare facilities.

The warning comes as winter weather adds to the hardships facing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in makeshift tents and damaged buildings. Heavy rainfall and flooding have inundated displacement camps, damaged temporary shelters and left families exposed to cold temperatures, while restrictions on the entry of essential supplies have hampered efforts to provide adequate shelter, medicine and medical equipment.

The EU noted that “after a year since the ceasefire was announced, military strikes continue” and shortages of essential supplies persist, “resulting in the absence of acceptable and dignified living conditions.”

It urged ‘Israel’ to “allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance and early recovery support at scale” and to “reopen all Gaza border crossings.”

The statement also called on ‘Israel’ to enable the work of the United Nations, its agencies and humanitarian organisations, including NGOs, and to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

The bloc further insisted that humanitarian commitments outlined in the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict “have to be fully implemented, in line with international law,” adding that aid should be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and not diverted by armed groups.

The EU also reiterated its position on Gaza's postwar future, calling for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 without delay, alongside relevant international resolutions and legal principles.

It said this should include the “permanent decommissioning of weapons from Hamas and other non-state armed groups,” the “full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza” and a transition to civilian governance. The statement explicitly added that “Hamas should not have any role in the future governance of Gaza.”

The EU reaffirmed its commitment to a two-state solution, maintaining that Gaza's humanitarian recovery and future governance must be addressed in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

The severe flooding and winter conditions that have struck Gaza are aggravating an already grave humanitarian situation. We urge Israel to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance and early recovery support at scale, and to reopen all Gaza border crossings. My statement on behalf of the EU ↓ https://t.co/oB6YAphDl4

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) November 14, 2026