European Union Urges Israel To Revoke Blockade, Open Access To Assistance To Gaza

JAKARTA - A spokesman for the European Union Commission (EU) urged Israel to lift the blockade in the Gaza Strip and allow the entry of humanitarian aid for Palestinians there.

"We again ask Israel to immediately lift the blockade so that humanitarian aid can massively enter the entire Gaza Strip region," said Anouar El Anouni as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Saturday, May 3.

He also expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"We are very concerned about various reports about humanitarian conditions that food supply, which had entered during the ceasefire, is now running out," he said.

According to Anouni, the European Union upholds the principle that humanitarian aid must be able to reach civilians in need, in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Israel has launched another military attack on Gaza since March 18, which undermined a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Palestinian resistance group Hamas on January 19.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing genocide lawsuits at the International Court (ICJ) over its military aggression in the Palestinian enclave.

Syrian Sovereignty

On the same occasion, Anouni also called for Israel to respect the sovereignty and integrity of the Syrian territory.

"The European Union calls on all parties involved to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria within the boundaries of its territory," he said.

Referring to the agreement between Israel and Syria in 1974, which designated the buffer zone and demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights, Anouni said the EU also hoped Israel would comply with the deal.

He reiterated EU's commitment to gradually lifting sectoral sanctions against Syria to support the country's reconstruction process.

Israel has recently increased the intensity of attacks on Syrian territory. Their latest attack targeted the area near the presidential palace in Damascus on Friday morning.