The European Union (EU) says Israel must lift the devastating humanitarian blockade on the Gaza Strip and resume the ceasefire deal with Hamas.

The EU said in a statement on Saturday that the bloc’s “priorities remain the resumption of the ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the restoration of humanitarian aid at scale into Gaza.”

It said Brussels “is extremely concerned by reports of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which suggest that food supplies brought in during the ceasefire are running out.”

“Under International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian aid must reach civilians in need.”

The EU also said it “firmly condemns the killing of 15 humanitarian aid workers in Gaza on March 23 and calls for accountability.”

According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), the aid workers were “executed” and buried by Israeli forces in Rafah.

Gaza conditions ‘unbearable’

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also said that “immediate action is needed to prevent a deepening humanitarian crisis” in Gaza.

“Food and clean water are in short supply in the Gaza Strip due to the blockade and the denial of aid for nearly six weeks,” UNRWA said in a statement on Saturday.

UNRWA’s director of communications Juliette Touma said, “babies, children are going to bed hungry,” as all basic supplies are running out in the Palestinian territory.

“Six weeks into the Israeli-imposed siege blocking the entry of aid and commercial supplies, food stocks are nearly gone, bakeries closed, and hunger is spreading.”

The Palestinian Bureau of Statistics and the Water Authority said in March that more than 85% of water and sanitation facilities and assets in Gaza were completely or partially out of service.

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