Germany, France and Britain have called on Israel to stop blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning of an "acute risk of famine, epidemic disease and death".
"This must stop," their foreign ministers were quoted by AFP as saying.
"We call on Israel to immediately resume the rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza to meet the needs of all civilians," they added.
After 18 months of devastating war and an Israeli aid blockade since 2 March, the UN has warned of a dire humanitarian situation for the 2.4 million residents of the Palestinian territory.
Israel accuses the Palestinian militant group Hamas of diverting aid, which it denies.
The heads of 12 major humanitarian organizations warned last that "famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly developing in almost all parts" of the coastal territory.
"Israel's decision to block aid from entering Gaza is unacceptable," the three ministers said.
They also criticized Defense Minister Israel Katz for "recent comments politicizing humanitarian aid" and described Israeli plans to remain in Gaza after the war as "unacceptable."
"Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool and the Palestinian territory should not be reduced or subjected to any demographic changes," the ministers said.
Last week, Katz said Israel would continue to prevent aid from entering Gaza, calling the blockade "one of the main pressure devices that prevents Hamas from using (aid) as a tool with the population."
The foreign ministers also expressed "outrage at the recent strikes by Israeli forces on humanitarian personnel, infrastructure, facilities and health facilities" in Gaza.
"Israel must do much more to protect civilians, infrastructure and aid workers," they concluded. | BGNES