Joint statement on the opening of a maritime corridor to Gaza – occupied Palestinian territory

We welcome the opening of a maritime corridor to deliver much-needed additional humanitarian assistance by sea and commend the leadership of Cyprus and the support extended by the European Commission, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and others. For aid delivery at scale there is no meaningful substitute to the many land routes and entry points from Israel into Gaza. The land routes from Egypt, Rafah in particular, and Jordan also remain essential to the overall humanitarian effort.

The maritime corridor brings, however, much needed additionality and is part of a sustained humanitarian response to provide aid as effectively as possible through all possible routes. Safety and security of civilians in Gaza is paramount. Security is also critical to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and effective delivery of assistance. A joint UNOPS – UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator technical team is currently in Cyprus working with national authorities and partners, pursuant to the new UN Mechanism for Gaza established under Security Council Resolution 2720 (2023).