53 Countries Urge Israel’s Incoming Government to Open Gaza Crossings for Unrestricted Aid
Fifty-three countries and organizations have urged Israel’s incoming government to open all crossings into Gaza and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid, warning that the territory’s health system is under severe strain as winter approaches.
The joint appeal was delivered on Thursday, November 12, at United Nations headquarters in New York by Dame Sarah MacIntosh, the United Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN. The initiative, known as the Gaza Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health, is led by the United Kingdom, Qatar and Jordan.
“The comprehensive peace plan, endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, provides for the immediate entry into Gaza of full humanitarian assistance at levels no lower than those agreed on 19 January 2025. This has not yet been realized,” MacIntosh said.
What the coalition is asking for
The 53 signatories called on Israel’s next government to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza, through all available crossings and land routes, and to ensure the full and predictable operation of the Egyptian and Jordanian humanitarian corridors.
The statement also urged Israel to approve more critical items, including dual-use goods, and to restore the medical referral pathway to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The group further called for transparent criminal investigations into attacks on health care and humanitarian workers, and for senior international delegations and journalists to be allowed into Gaza.
The coalition stressed the importance of supporting the Palestinian Authority, working with the transitional National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, the United Nations and other humanitarian partners, to restore essential health services and rebuild damaged health infrastructure.
Winter adds urgency
MacIntosh warned that many people in Gaza lack proper shelter heading into winter, and the coalition said the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. The UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, criticized delays in delivering essential winter supplies and said waiting for a new Israeli government to be formed was not an acceptable reason to hold up aid.
The appeal comes after flooding that damaged tents across Gaza earlier this month, adding to the pressure on families already displaced by the war. The Board of Peace, the body overseeing the ceasefire’s implementation, has described the flooding as an immediate humanitarian emergency.
Background: Resolution 2803
The Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict was endorsed by the UN Security Council in Resolution 2803 in November 2025, with 13 votes in favor and Russia and China abstaining. The plan sets out the framework for the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, including provisions for aid to enter Gaza at the levels agreed in January 2025.
MacIntosh noted that since the October 2025 ceasefire, “progress to improve the humanitarian situation is possible when political will allows.” The coalition’s statement argues that the promised aid levels have still not materialized, and that the incoming Israeli government should act immediately rather than waiting for a new administration to settle in.
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Why this matters
The joint statement is one of the broadest diplomatic appeals on Gaza aid since the ceasefire, bringing together 53 governments and organizations behind a single set of demands. Its timing, just as winter sets in, underscores the concern that shelter, fuel and medical supplies are not reaching people fast enough.
Whether the incoming Israeli government responds to the call will be an early test of how it handles the ceasefire framework and its relationship with the countries that backed the peace plan.
Latest developments
The statement was delivered at the UN on Thursday, November 12, and the Palestinian Mission to the UN shared the text publicly the same day. No response from the Israeli government had been reported by Friday. The appeal follows a separate push by the Board of Peace earlier this week for winterization supplies to be allowed into Gaza.
Frequently asked questions
Who signed the Gaza aid appeal?
Fifty-three countries and organizations signed the joint statement, led by the United Kingdom, Qatar and Jordan. The statement was read at the UN by Dame Sarah MacIntosh, the UK’s permanent representative.
What does the appeal ask Israel to do?
It asks Israel’s incoming government to open all Gaza crossings and land routes, allow the Egyptian and Jordanian aid corridors to operate fully and predictably, approve more critical items including dual-use goods, and restore medical referrals to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
What is UN Security Council Resolution 2803?
Resolution 2803, passed in November 2025, endorsed the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. It provides for full humanitarian assistance to enter Gaza immediately, at levels no lower than those agreed on January 19, 2025.
Why is the appeal focused on winter?
Aid groups and UN officials warn that many people in Gaza lack proper shelter as winter approaches, and that winter supplies, fuel and medicines are not getting in fast enough. Recent flooding has already damaged tents across the territory.
The coalition’s appeal now rests with Israel’s incoming government, and aid agencies will be watching whether crossings open and aid flows increase in the coming days.
Sources: UN Media (UNifeed) — https://media.un.org/unifeed/en/asset/d368/d3686179 ; Anadolu Agency via IwPost — https://iwpost.com/53-countries-organizations-urge-israel-to-allow-rapid-humanitarian-access-to-gaza/ ; ABNA English — https://en.abna24.com/news/1890213/53-countries-and-organizations-urge-unrestricted-humanitarian ; The Eastleigh Voice — https://eastleighvoice.co.ke/news/423322/53-nations-demand-israel-lift-gaza-aid-restrictions-ahead-of-winter ; NewsCord — https://newscord.org/article/53-countries-urge-israels-incoming-government-to-open-gaza-crossings-for-unrestr–Story_20261113_532a48af22
