As famine spreads across the Gaza Strip, the European Commission has issued a rare and urgent call for Israel to lift its months-long blockade, which continues to strangle humanitarian relief efforts and push over two million Palestinians further into desperation.

Speaking on behalf of the Commission, spokesperson Anwar Al-Anouni expressed alarm over reports that food supplies brought in during the temporary ceasefire have nearly run out. He reiterated that the delivery of aid to civilians must be guaranteed in line with international humanitarian law and urged Israel to allow unhindered access for humanitarian convoys.

This appeal comes amid a near-total halt of aid since 2 March, when Israeli authorities fully blocked humanitarian access to the Strip. For Palestinians already enduring 19 months of relentless bombardment, displacement, and isolation, the blockade has extinguished the last sources of sustenance. According to the World Bank, the vast majority of Gaza’s population is now living in extreme poverty, surviving—when possible—on aid that never arrives.

The European Union’s statement, while cautiously worded, reflects growing frustration among international actors as the humanitarian collapse in Gaza unfolds in full view. Still, Palestinians remain sceptical, having heard similar declarations before, with little impact on the ground.

As Gaza’s children face starvation and families dig through rubble for food, the international community is once again confronted with a moral test. Whether these calls translate into action, or simply echo into silence, remains to be seen.