BRUSSELS (WAM)
The European Commission announced a new aid shipment carrying EU supplies from Cyprus to Gaza via the Maritime Corridor and the newly constructed US pier.
Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Romania is sending more than 88,000 cans of food to Palestinians in need, with the Commission covering the transport costs of this delivery.
An EU logistics hub in Cyprus has also been set up to help handle the further flow of assistance to Gaza.
The EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre remains in close contact with Member States and humanitarian partners to mobilise offers of assistance via the Maritime Corridor with a view to increasing aid supplies.
The European Commission said that the maritime corridor is complementary to, and not intended to replace, existing land routes to Gaza, such as through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings.
The EU called on Israel to grant sustained access using new routes such as through the Erez crossing and through use of the port of Ashdod.