BERLIN

Germany on Wednesday called for urgent steps to prevent an acute famine in Gaza amid Israel's ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid deliveries to the Palestinians.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during his address in parliament that his government remains a strong defender of Israel's security and its operations against Hamas, but also underlined the need to provide more humanitarian aid to Palestinians.

“We expect them to provide better humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, whose suffering we see, particularly that of the children, women, and elderly,” Merz stated.

“We received news today that an acute famine could threaten Gaza. It is a humanitarian obligation of all involved—and I emphasize all involved—that famine in the region is averted as quickly as possible,” he stressed.

Since March 2, Israel has kept Gaza crossings closed to food, medical, and humanitarian aid, deepening an already humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Israel's severe restrictions on essential supplies have left over 2 million Palestinians in desperate conditions, subjecting them to what international organizations describe as a deliberate act of collective punishment.

More than 52,900 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed in Gaza during Israel's ongoing military offensive since October 2023.

The Israeli government cited the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack as justification to launch its months-long military campaign. However, numerous human rights organizations have condemned the Israeli offensive, characterizing it as a systematic campaign aimed at ethnic cleansing.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.