“We strongly urge Israel to restore the medical corridor to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, so medical evacuations from Gaza can resume and patients can receive urgently needed treatment in Palestinian territory,” according to a joint statement signed by 26 European countries, Canada, and the European Commission.
The signatories express their readiness “to provide support in the form of financial contributions, medical personnel, or necessary equipment to treat patients from Gaza in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
In a message posted on social media platform X, Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel indicated that Portugal endorsed the joint statement.
“Portugal will actively contribute to this humanitarian program to protect health and save lives,” stated the Foreign Minister.
The signatory countries argue that “as the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip continues to unfold, there is an urgent need to intensify medical treatment for patients from Gaza.”
In the declaration, the countries call on Israel to “lift restrictions on the delivery of medicines and medical equipment to Gaza, in compliance with Israel’s obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law.”
The statement also urges Israeli authorities to “immediately and fully allow the UN and other humanitarian partners to carry out their lifesaving work in Gaza.”
Additionally, Israel is urged to “ensure that medical personnel exclusively involved in medical tasks are respected and protected, and that their safe and unhindered passage is facilitated, along with their equipment, transportation, and supplies.”
The declaration is signed by the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, by the Development Cooperation ministers of Finland and the Netherlands, and by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
