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Gaza ceasefire and support: Latest deveoplments in the EU and the USA

Jun 11, 2024 , ,

Brussels, 11 June 2024

Commissioner Lenarčič visits Jordan to attend conference calling for urgent action on humanitarian response to Gaza

Today, Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management, attends the high-level conference in Jordan entitled “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza”, co-chaired by His Majesty the King of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, with the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres. On this occasion, the commissioner issued a statement calling for an urgent ceasefire and humanitarian access to Gaza.

This event brings together key players involved in the response to the crisis in Gaza, including representatives and leaders from the region, the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, to discuss pressing issues regarding the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The conference sessions will focus, among other things, on resolving issues related to the delivery of aid and humanitarian access to Gaza, the protection of civilians as well as early recovery priorities.

The EU continues to work on all fronts to provide humanitarian aid. This includes the already announced €193 million in humanitarian funding for 2024 for Palestinians in need. The EU also organized 51 humanitarian bridges carrying more than 2,233 tonnes of humanitarian goods provided by humanitarian partners, EU-owned stocks and donations from member states for the Palestinians. Furthermore, the EU continues to support the maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gaza.

Source – EU Commission

 

 

Statement by the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, on the urgent need for a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, has issued the following statement:

“Today, I represented the European Commission at the Gaza Humanitarian Summit “Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza” in Amman, conveying the firm imperative to end the suffering of people in Gaza.

The vast majority of the population of the Gaza strip is fully dependent on humanitarian aid.

Despite all the efforts of humanitarian actors over the past eight months, often at great risk to themselves, the amount of aid allowed into Gaza has fallen to unacceptably low levels.

A ceasefire is desperately needed to deliver life-saving aid to those in need and to secure the release of the hostages. The vital work of the United Nations agency staff, which has been under attack in this crisis as rarely before in history, needs to be protected and facilitated.

Today’s Conference offered a timely platform for reflection and dialogue within the international community, sharing the following priorities: ensure full access for humanitarian assistance into Gaza commensurate to the population’s needs; protect civilians; and identify Early Recovery priorities.

The humanitarian situation and severe food insecurity are likely to deteriorate further, at a time when rising temperatures are aggravating the health and sanitation crisis inside Gaza owing to damaged sewage and waste treatment systems, making living conditions even worse.

Aid is piling up at Gaza’s borders when children are dying of hunger just a few kilometers away. We can and we must stop this catastrophe.

The crucial Rafah crossing point must be re-opened, and Kerem Shalom, crossing points in the North of Gaza as well as the Jordan corridor and any other available option for access must be used to the fullest possible extent.

Ensuring the safety of humanitarian personnel assisting the most vulnerable is also crucial. As I stressed to our Jordanian partners, the EU stands ready to further step up its support for the Jordan corridor as a vital route for channelling assistance to Gaza.

The EU calls on Israel and all parties involved to abide by International Humanitarian Law to avoid further bloodshed among innocent civilians. The time for action is now.”

Source – EU Commission

 

Gaza aid conferen: Speech by EU Council President Charles Michel in Jordan

11 June 2024 18:00

First let me thank you for convening this important conference here in Jordan. A lot has happened since the Cairo Peace Summit last October, organised by President Al-Sisi. That is why today’s conference is so vital.

The European Union was born from the ashes of World War II, a horrific humanitarian disaster. Since then, we have built our Union on the principles of human dignity, international cooperation, and international humanitarian law. Each civilian life matters, always and everywhere.

That is why, from day one, we have condemned Hamas’ brutal attack against the people of Israel last October. We also condemn the loss of each civilian life and the horrendous suffering and humanitarian disaster in Gaza.

The EU has three key priorities: ending the war, more humanitarian assistance and a political process.

First, ending the war in Gaza and ensuring the protection of all civilians. Every day without a ceasefire is another day of blood and death. We call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

Since March, we have urged the Israeli government not to undertake a ground operation in Rafah. The orders of the International Court of Justice must be respected. We strongly support the 3-phased approach — starting with a ceasefire and the release of hostages as endorsed by the UN Security Council yesterday.

Second, we must address the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the magnitude of the disaster. According to sources, over 37,000 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 85,000 injured. 75% of the population in Gaza is internally displaced, with nowhere safe to go.

This war has also been a nightmare for the children of Gaza. 17,000 of them are separated from their families and many are orphans. Many have had limbs amputated, often without proper medical conditions. Each of these numbers represents a human life.  And each is absolutely heartbreaking. And all this suffering is happening just a couple of hundred kilometres from here. We cannot, and we do not, forget the West Bank and we call for an immediate halt to violence, there and in East Jerusalem.

I would like to thank key partners, especially Jordan and Egypt, for their leadership in providing humanitarian relief, as well as the United Nations. Since the outbreak of the crisis, the EU together with its member states have provided nearly 800 million euros in humanitarian aid for Palestinians. And we have coordinated the delivery of over 2,500 tonnes of in-kind assistance. I would like to commend the role played by our EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, who is here with us today, for his excellent work.

UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation. And we do not accept any attempt to label it as such. We will continue to support them, together with our member states. We also pay tribute to all aid workers who risk their lives to help others. Many have paid the ultimate price.

Our third priority is about the future. A more peaceful future. We have no choice but to look beyond this darkness to an urgent settlement based on the two-state solution. And there is one lesson learned: security without peace is not security. Peace is the best and lasting security guarantee for both Israelis and Palestinians. We have consistently supported the two-state solution. We also support the Palestinian Authority and its reforms. This will bolster its legitimacy and credibility to deliver for its people. That is why we do not accept that Israel withhold crucial clearance revenues, which undermines the Palestinian Authority.

The EU has built a Union founded on forgiveness, reconciliation, and human dignity.  We believe in International Humanitarian Law and international justice. We will always be on the side of humanity, not on the side of hatred.

That is why we believe in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt. She said: “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.”

Humanity has no borders. It has no religion and no skin colour.  It is universal. Let’s work together to build a safe and peaceful future for this region and its children. You can count on the EU.

Source – EU Council

 

United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance to Palestinian Civilians in Gaza and the Region

 Washington, 11 June 2024

The United States will provide an additional $404 million in lifesaving humanitarian aid to support Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and the region, bringing the total U.S. assistance to more than $674 million over the past eight months.  As the largest single country humanitarian donor to the Palestinian people, we recognize the urgent need for more assistance to reach civilians given the dire humanitarian conditions and call on all donors to support life-saving operations for Palestinians in Gaza and the region.

This new funding will provide essential support to vulnerable Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the region, including food, safe drinking water, health care, protection, education, shelter, and psychosocial support.  The United States remains committed to addressing the humanitarian needs of those affected by the crisis.

We urge other donors to contribute to the humanitarian response in Gaza and the region, increase support to those affected by the conflict, and work together to find lasting solutions to the crisis.

Source – US State Department

 

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