Twenty-five Western countries have called on Israel to immediately reopen the medical corridor between Gaza and the occupied West Bank, offering financial aid, medical teams, and equipment to treat Gaza patients in West Bank hospitals.
In a joint statement issued Monday by Canada and reported by Reuters, the signatories appealed to Israel to restore access to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to resume urgent medical evacuations from Gaza.
The signatories include Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the European Union. The United States was notably absent.
The statement also called on Israel to lift restrictions on the delivery of medicines and medical supplies to Gaza, where humanitarian agencies report severe shortages.
Despite Israel’s claim that sufficient food and aid are entering the territory, relief organizations say essential items—including medications—have not reached civilians since the blockade on humanitarian aid was partially lifted in May.
The World Health Organization has warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. Images of starving Palestinians, including children, have sparked global outrage over Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which has killed tens of thousands since October 2023, displaced the entire population of Gaza, and triggered a famine crisis.
Several leading U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom and France, have endorsed Palestinian statehood at the United Nations as a pathway to a two-state solution—despite Washington’s continued opposition.
