Egypt – The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, described the aid entering the Gaza Strip as a “drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the Palestinians there.
This came in a statement to reporters on Tuesday, during his visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border gate with the Gaza Strip.
“I’m used to looking at the Rafah crossing through satellite images,” he said. “I know that there are thousands of trucks waiting to enter every day, every week, every month. I know that there are ambulances waiting to transport the injured.”
The European official added: “But seeing one truck after another waiting (to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing) with the naked eye is something else.”
Borrell confirmed that about 1,400 trucks are waiting to enter Gaza, praising in this context the role of Egypt, humanitarian organizations and the United Nations in delivering aid to the Palestinians in the Strip.
“What’s happening on the other side of this wall is not a crisis created by nature,” he added. “It’s not a flood, it’s not an earthquake, it’s not one of those crises that nature creates from time to time and that we can’t prevent or avoid. It’s a man-made crisis and tragedy.”
Borrell stressed that “what is happening in Gaza today is another horror, a blatant violation of human rights and not self-defense.”
He stressed that the European Union will continue to support the Palestinians, and that it is necessary to search for a political solution, indicating that “giving someone food at night and killing him the next morning is not a solution.”
Borrell said the European Union called for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners, noting that negotiations in this regard are not progressing quickly.
Asked what the EU could do to change the situation in Gaza, Borrell said: “We can exert political and diplomatic pressure on the Israeli authorities, but our capacity is limited.”
He continued: “We are doing our best, and the United States is doing its best as well. But something is wrong, and I do not understand why a ceasefire has not been reached yet.”
Borrell is on a Middle East tour, including Egypt and Lebanon, between September 8 and 12, according to the European Union’s foreign service office in Brussels.
Borrell is scheduled to participate in an Arab League ministerial meeting in Cairo on Tuesday.
With American support, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza since October 7, leaving about 136,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and deadly famine.
In contempt of the international community, Israel continues the war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt, and the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent genocide and improve the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.
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2024-09-10 11:59:55
What is Josep Borrell’s view on the adequacy of humanitarian aid entering Gaza?
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EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell Sounds Alarm on Gaza Crisis
In a recent statement, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, described the aid entering the Gaza Strip as a “drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the Palestinians there. This came during his visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border gate with the Gaza Strip.
Borrell’s remarks highlighted the severity of the crisis in Gaza, emphasizing that the situation is a “man-made crisis and tragedy” and not a natural disaster. He praised the role of Egypt, humanitarian organizations, and the United Nations in delivering aid to the Palestinians in the Strip, but stressed that more needs to be done.
The European official’s concern is not unfounded. According to his statement, about 1,400 trucks are waiting to enter Gaza, and ambulances are waiting to transport the injured. Borrell emphasized that the European Union will continue to support the Palestinians and that a political solution is necessary to address the crisis. He noted that “giving someone food at night and killing him the next morning is not a solution.”
Borrell’s comments come on the heels of his Middle East tour, which includes Egypt and Lebanon, between September 8 and 12. During his tour, he is scheduled to participate in an Arab League ministerial meeting in Cairo.
The EU’s top diplomat has been vocal about the need for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners. However, he acknowledged that negotiations are not progressing quickly. Borrell expressed frustration that a ceasefire has not been reached yet, despite the efforts of the EU and the United States.
The situation in Gaza has been a topic of concern for the EU, as evident in recent statements and actions. For instance, in June, Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič issued a statement on the humanitarian situation and access constraints in Gaza [[2]]. The EU has consistently reiterated that the situation in the Gaza Strip has long been unsustainable and that only a political solution will bring sustainable peace and security [[3]].
As the international community continues to grapple with the Gaza crisis, Borrell’s words serve as a stark reminder of the need for urgent action. The EU’s commitment to supporting the Palestinians and promoting a political solution is crucial in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Keywords: Josep Borrell, Gaza Strip, European Union, Middle East, humanitarian crisis, political solution, ceasefire, prisoners, Egypt, Lebanon, Arab League.
What are Josep Borrell’s main concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
EU’s High Representative Josep Borrell Sounds Alarm on Gaza Crisis
In a recent statement, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, described the aid entering the Gaza Strip as a “drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the Palestinians there. This came during his visit to the Egyptian side of the Rafah border gate with the Gaza Strip.
Borrell’s remarks highlighted the severity of the crisis in Gaza, emphasizing that the situation is a “man-made crisis and tragedy” and not a natural disaster. He praised the role of Egypt, humanitarian organizations, and the United Nations in delivering aid to the Palestinians in the Strip, but stressed that more needs to be done.
The European official’s concern is not unfounded. According to his statement, about 1,400 trucks are waiting to enter Gaza, and ambulances are waiting to transport the injured. Borrell emphasized that the European Union will continue to support the Palestinians and that a political solution is necessary to address the crisis. He noted that “giving someone food at night and killing him the next morning is not a solution.”
Borrell’s comments come on the heels of his Middle East tour, which includes Egypt and Lebanon, between September 8 and 12. During his tour, he is scheduled to participate in an Arab League ministerial meeting in Cairo.
The EU’s top diplomat has been vocal about the need for a ceasefire and the release of prisoners. However, he acknowledged that negotiations are not progressing quickly. Borrell expressed frustration that a ceasefire has not been reached yet, despite the efforts of the EU and the United States.
The situation in Gaza has been a topic of concern for the EU, as evident in recent statements and actions. For instance, in June, Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez
