Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: UAE And Partners Urge Unrestricted Aid And Winter Shelter Support

The foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority states warned that the Gaza Strip faces a deepening humanitarian emergency, worsened by severe winter weather and continued restrictions on aid. The ministers said current conditions threaten civilian lives and urged immediate international action to ease access for relief supplies and support basic services.

The ministers voiced particular alarm over the situation of almost 1.9 million displaced Palestinians living in fragile or makeshift shelters. They noted that heavy rain, storms and unstable weather have flooded camps, damaged tents and weakened already unsafe structures while people struggle with cold temperatures, hunger and limited healthcare.

Foreign ministers from the United Arab Emirates, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt issued the joint statement. The group underlined that the crisis affects civilians across Gaza and also impacts the West Bank.

The statement stressed that exposure to low temperatures, combined with malnutrition and overcrowded shelters, has sharply increased the risk of disease outbreaks. The ministers highlighted specific concern for children, women, older people and individuals with existing medical conditions, warning that the current Gaza Strip humanitarian situation could deteriorate further without rapid and large-scale support.

The ministers called on the wider international community to meet its legal and moral duties under international law. They urged states to apply pressure on Israel, in its capacity as the occupying power, to remove barriers on the entry and distribution of essential goods, including shelter materials, medical supplies, fuel, clean water and sanitation assistance.

They demanded that Israel allow United Nations bodies and international NGOs to operate in both Gaza and the West Bank on a sustained, predictable and unrestricted basis. According to the statement, these organisations play a central role in the humanitarian response, and any attempt to limit their operations "is unacceptable."

The ministers praised "the tireless efforts of all United Nations organizations and agencies, especially UNRWA, as well as humanitarian international NGOs," noting that staff continue to assist Palestinian civilians under very difficult and complex conditions. They said aid workers are working in dangerous environments to deliver food, medical care, shelter materials and other critical supplies.

The joint statement reaffirmed full backing for UNSCR 2803 and President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan, and expressed the ministers’ intention to help ensure their implementation. They linked these frameworks to securing a lasting ceasefire, ending the war in Gaza, improving daily living conditions and advancing a credible process toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.

The ministers urged an immediate scale-up of early recovery measures, especially durable and dignified shelter to protect people from winter conditions. They called for rapid rehabilitation of infrastructure and hospitals, unimpeded humanitarian aid through UN channels, and the opening of the Rafah Crossing in both directions, as specified in President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan.

With inputs from WAM