Ashraf AboArafe
The European Union is deeply concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which impacts the lives of all the strip’s inhabitants in every sector, from food to shelter, education and healthcare.
The EU has mobilised over EUR 300 million and all humanitarian instruments at its disposal to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians. Over 60 humanitarian air bridge flights have been organised to provide critical assistance.
All these efforts, however, need enabling conditions to truly succeed. Reiterating the appeals of the European Union and all like-minded partners, we call for the granting of safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian goods and staff, the opening of all access routes to international aid and commercial imports to their maximum capacity, and urgent actions to restore law and order and stop the looting of aid. The EU also reiterates its support to the UN system, including the irreplaceable role of UNRWA.
Recalling the EU’s unwavering commitment to a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, the EU supports the stabilization and revitalization of the Palestinian Authority, which remains a cornerstone for future governance, the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, and the preservation of a political horizon. To this end, the EU is advancing an ambitious multi-annual response package to address both the immediate fiscal emergency and the long-term structural challenges faced by the Palestinian Authority, based on the Palestinian Reform Agenda and international partners’ commitment.
