EU Head Of Foreign Policy Wants US To Press Israel On Access To Assistance To Gaza

Josep Borrell. (Wikimedia Commons/European Parliament)

JAKARTA - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after Thursday's meeting in Washington DC, the United States should put greater pressure on Israel to allow more aid to the Gaza Strip.

This was revealed by the senior diplomat in the midst of what he called a man-made disaster in the Palestinian enclave.

In a statement at the European Union office in Washington DC, the recent efforts made by Uncle Sam's country to deliver aid to Gaza via air or ship delivery were not as effective as land routes that allow hundreds of trucks to enter. every day.

"We certainly expect the US Government to continue to exert pressure, put greater pressure on Israel to open up borders and not (block) humanitarian access," Borrell said.

Borrell, who met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday said the United States was doing a lot to secure more access to aid.

Meanwhile, Israel said it plans to "flood" Gaza with humanitarian aid from various points of entry amid growing calls, including from government officials President Joe Biden, that something should be done to avoid the risk of starvation among the region's 2.3 million residents.

"We've increased humanitarian support, but that's certainly not enough," Borrell said.

"And a fact that everyone admits is, there are clear obstacles to humanitarian access by those who control the border (Gaza), namely the Israeli government," he said.