Wong Joins 25 International Leaders in Push for ‘Flood of Aid’ Into Gaza

Allowing aid into Gaza has been a difficult issue given the possible infiltration of Hamas militants into supply chains.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong (L) listens to Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as he speaks during a press conference in Canberra on August 11, 2025. Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on August 11. (Photo by Hilary Wardhaugh / AFP) Photo by HILARY WARDHAUGH/AFP via Getty Images

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has signed a joint statement alongside 25 of her international counterparts and three European organisations to call for increased humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels,” the joint statement said.

“Famine is unfolding before our eyes. Urgent action is needed now to halt and reverse starvation. Humanitarian space must be protected, and aid should never be politicised.”

The statement criticised Israel’s regulations on international aid workers.

Israel has a number of conditions for aid workers, such as requiring that they have not previously expressed anti-Israel sentiment or supported boycotts.

More recently, Israel introduced additional vetting procedures, including the requirement that Palestinian aid workers submit details including names, contact details, and identification numbers.

It follows earlier revelations that the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees faced an internal investigation when 19 of its staff were accused of involvement to Hamas and the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

Nine staffers were dismissed as a result, while not enough evidence was found regarding the others.

But Minister Wong and her counterparts have been critical of Israel’s current approach.

“Due to restrictive new registration requirements, essential international non-government organisations (NGOs) may be forced to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territories imminently which would worsen the humanitarian situation still further,” the statement said.

“We call on the government of Israel to provide authorisation for all international NGO aid shipments and to unblock essential humanitarian actors from operating.

“Immediate, permanent and concrete steps must be taken to facilitate safe, large-scale access for the United Nations, international NGOs and humanitarian partners.”

Wong called for “all crossings and routes” to be used to allow a “flood of aid” into Gaza including food, shelters, furl, water and medications.

“Lethal force must not be used at distribution sites, and civilians, humanitarians and medical workers must be protected,” the statement said.

“We are grateful to the U.S., Qatar and Egypt for their efforts in pushing for a ceasefire and pursuing peace.

“We need a ceasefire that can end the war, for hostages to be released and aid to enter Gaza by land unhindered.”

In addition to Wong, the statement was signed by Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

It was also signed by the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, its commissioner for the Mediterranean, and its commissioner for equality.

Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon had earlier said Israel’s commitment to deliver aid into Gaza would continue.

On Aug. 6, he stated more than 300 trucks of aid had entered Gaza for U.N. distribution in a few days.

Maimon said Israel had also worked with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Canada and Belgium to airdrop 120 pallets of aid, and said 1.8 million tonnes of aid had been delivered since Oct. 7.