European Union Asks Israel To Stop Blocking Access To Assistance To Gaza

PHOTOS OF ILLUSTRATION/Child conditions queue for food in Gaza/LETCH UNDP PAPP/Abed Zagout

JAKARTA - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel was responsible for the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip by blocking aid deliveries.

"We must increase humanitarian aid (to Gaza). However, keep in mind that this humanitarian crisis is not caused by natural disasters. This is not a flood, not an earthquake. This is a humanitarian disaster caused by humans," Borrell told reporters at the United Nations, stressing the European Union is increasing its humanitarian aid.

"We have to mobilize the international community, but Israeli authorities must immediately stop blocking humanitarian access," he added as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, March 13.

Borrell noted that Israel's barrier to humanitarian aid to Gaza was "a major problem," and said sending aid by air or sea could not be an alternative, other than land routes.

"We cannot replace hundreds of tons of aid sent by land by air operation," he said.

Meanwhile, regarding Pope Francis' recent remarks about the need for Ukraine to fly a "white flag" and negotiations to end the war with Russia, Borrell said: "I think there is no reason for Ukraine to surrender, to fly the white flag."

"This is not the time for Ukraine. They must continue to fight the invaders, and we must continue to support their resistance."

Borrell stressed that the European Union does not oppose Russia or the Russian people.

"We are only against authoritarian regimes that invade neighboring countries and violate the UN Charter," he said.