European Union Urges Israel To End Operations In Rafah Or Their Relations Will Be Damaged

Head of EU Foreign Policy Josep Borrell. (Wikimedia Commons/European Parliament)

JAKARTA - The European Union urged Israel to immediately end its military operations in Rafah, warning that the country's relations with the bloc would be damaged if it failed.

"If Israel continues its military operations in Rafah, it will definitely burden EU relations with Israel," according to a statement issued on behalf of the European Union by Josep Borrell's Head of Foreign Policy, quoted by The Times of Israel May 15.

The European Union said the pressure was issued as Israeli attacks "increasingly disrupted the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, causing even more internal evacuations, exposure to hunger and human suffering".

"The European Union calls on Israel to exercise restraint, so as not to further worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and reopen Rafah crossing points," the bloc said on Wednesday, according to The National News.

He added, under international humanitarian law, Israel must allow the entry of humanitarian aid for civilians without a hitch.

"We call on all parties to double their efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire and unconditional release of all hostages detained by Hamas," the European Union said.