Concerned About Israel's Evacuation Order In Khan Younis Gaza, European Union: Exacerbating The Humanitarian Situation

Gaza refugees, Palestine. (Source: UNRWA/Ashraf Amra)

JAKARTA - The European Union on Friday said it was concerned by Israeli evacuation orders against residents in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, who were said to be able to "create a humanitarian crisis amid the crisis."

In a joint statement, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell and Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic said not only 250.000 people were affected by the order, but the order also threatened patients and staff of European hospitals and forced them to move to other facilities.

"This evacuation decision will definitely exacerbate congestion and cause severe shortages in the remaining hospitals that are already overwhelmed when access to emergency medical care is very important," Borrell and Lenarcic said.

"The forced evacuation created a humanitarian crisis amid the crisis. The evacuation exacerbated a very bad humanitarian situation, with nearly 1.9 million Gazans displaced in the Gaza Strip, as stated by the UN Senior Coordinator for Humanitarian and Reconstruction for Gaza Sigrid Kaag at the Security Council," they explained.

Furthermore, both of them emphasized that there are no facilities to accommodate people with humanitarian partners struggling to meet the huge needs of the new refugees.

"Europe reiterates that in order for evacuation not to be considered a prohibited forced transfer, evacuation must comply with International Humanitarian Law, ensuring safety in transit and proper accommodation in protected areas for Palestinians who are asked to evacuate," they said.

On the occasion, both of them also reminded Israel of its responsibility to ensure that displaced people can return to their homes or residential areas after hostilities end.

"People who evacuate also need to have access to the necessary services and their needs are met," they added.

He added that the European Union mobilized all crisis responses and its humanitarian tools to distribute the needed aid to Gaza.

"The ceasefire is becoming increasingly important now, and will allow a spike in humanitarian aid to Gaza as well as the release of all hostages," they said, urging the implementation of the International Court's orders on January 26 and May 24, as the order was "legally binding."