Countries Urge Expanded Humanitarian Access Into Gaza
A joint statement from more than 40 countries and organizations calls on Israel's incoming government to allow aid through all available crossings and routes.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in International Relations
The UK's UN ambassador Sarah MacIntosh delivered a joint statement on behalf of more than 40 countries and organizations, including the European Commission, League of Arab States and OIC. It says the full humanitarian assistance levels provided for under the Comprehensive Peace Plan endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 have not yet been realized.
Why it matters
Constraints on the entry of critical shelter items and other lifesaving supplies continue to prevent humanitarian organizations from responding at the required scale as winter sets in. The statement directs its requests to the incoming Government of Israel, following national elections.
The benchmark is the humanitarian assistance level agreed on 19 January 2025 under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which the statement says has not been met. The statement does not quantify the gap between current and required levels.
The players
Sarah MacIntosh
Sarah MacIntosh is the UK's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, who delivered the joint statement.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive arm of the European Union and a signatory to the joint statement.
League of Arab States
The League of Arab States is a regional organization of Arab countries and a signatory to the joint statement.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an intergovernmental body of Muslim-majority states and a signatory to the joint statement.
The details
The statement calls on the incoming Government of Israel to facilitate humanitarian access through all available crossings and land routes, including the Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridors. It also commits participating countries to support winterisation efforts, including shelter, water, sanitation and health supplies, while noting that medical referrals to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank have been restricted.
Timeline
19 January 2025: Baseline humanitarian assistance level agreed under the Comprehensive Peace Plan.
Winter 2026: Winter sets in while many in Gaza remain without adequate shelter.
12 November 2026: Joint statement on Gaza humanitarian access published.
Season Trajectory
The statement invokes UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and its Comprehensive Peace Plan, using the assistance levels agreed on 19 January 2025 as the benchmark that current delivery has not met. It shifts pressure onto the new Israeli government as the next phase of implementation begins.
The statement signals that humanitarian shipments into Gaza, including shelter and winterisation supplies, remain constrained as cold weather arrives. Readers following aid delivery should watch whether the incoming Israeli government changes crossing and corridor access.
The takeaway
Agreed humanitarian benchmarks only matter when they are delivered on the ground, and the gap between the 2025 commitments and current conditions is the central issue. Watching how the new Israeli government handles crossings and corridors will show whether that gap begins to close.
Further reading
For background on the diplomatic framework behind these appeals, see International Relations.
