The Commission has now contracted €81 million out of the overall humanitarian aid allocation of €125 million and is working on its disbursement to humanitarian partner organisations.
The EU has to date organised 41 air bridge flights to deliver over 1,800 tonnes of aid to Palestinians via Egypt and is exploring further means of delivering lifesaving supplies.
This comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič is in Israel today to conclude his visit to the Middle East, after visiting the West Bank and Jordan yesterday. The objective of the visit is to reiterate the EU’s commitment to mobilising all possible means to provide humanitarian aid for Palestinians in need.
In Israel, the Commissioner met with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and shared the EU’s unequivocal call for the protection of civilians, unhindered and safe access for humanitarian aid into and across Gaza, whilst also reiterating the EU’s request for the release of all hostages. He also met with EU’s humanitarian partners on the ground.
Today the Commissioner has visited Kerem Shalom, the Israeli border crossing with the Gaza Strip, to emphasise the vital importance of allowing unimpeded and safe humanitarian access through all crossing points, while opening additional ones, including to the north of Gaza. The Commissioner has also visited the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the multiple sites targeted by the heinous 7 October terrorist attacks by Hamas.
Yesterday in Jordan, the Commissioner Lenarčič met with the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and humanitarian partner organisations. He also visited a UN-led girls school in the Jalazone refugee camp in the West Bank and met with the caretaker representatives of the Palestinian National Authority.
Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said: “It has been five months since the world is witnessing a major human tragedy evolving in the Middle East. The remaining hostages taken by Hamas have still not been released, while in Gaza one of the worst humanitarian disasters ever continues. After five months of war and destruction, the humanitarian system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse. While meeting the authorities in Israel and the West Bank, I reiterated that the EU will continue to do all in its power to alleviate this suffering, save lives and free the remaining 130 hostages. But to do this, there must be an immediate humanitarian pause, and a massive surge of humanitarian aid into and across Gaza must be enabled as a priority.”
Background
The protracted humanitarian situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels, with conditions rapidly deteriorating due to the continued intensification of hostilities.
The full-scale Israeli military operation which followed the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack, along with the blockade of Gaza, brought the already dire humanitarian situation to a catastrophic level for the 2.2 million population.
Tensions and settler violence in the occupied West Bank also significantly worsened following the war outbreak in Gaza.
The EU is responding to the population’s most pressing needs in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in need since 2000.
The EU also launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation consisting of 41 flights transporting humanitarian cargo supplied by humanitarian partners, EU-owned stockpile items, and donations from Member States.
Furthermore, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated 7 times to support countries affected by the spill-over of the crisis and support repatriations from Israel and Gaza.
*Updated on 7 March, at 15:25 CET
