Today's Edition
WAEL BADRAN (Abu Dhabi) - There is increasing support within the European Union for a humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, with the intention of facilitating the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, according to Luis Bueno, the spokesperson for the EU in the Middle East. Current top priorities for the bloc are the swift delivery of aid and the preservation of Palestinian lives, Bueno said.
In exclusive statements to Alethiad, Bueno said: “We cannot ignore the humanity of Palestinian civilians who aspire to live in peace. Several thousand individuals, including a significant number of children, have already lost their lives.” Bueno expressed deep sorrow for the Palestinian children who have become innocent victims of the ongoing conflict, emphasised the necessity of halting rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, and urged the release of hostages as part of de-escalation efforts. Furthermore, Bueno underscored the importance of reviving the political process and intensifying efforts while keeping the ultimate goal in mind: the two-state solution.
He lamented that possibilities for a sustainable solution appear to be further receding, despite having been a focal point in the last 30 years of discussions in the region.
It is unacceptable to deprive a civilian population under siege of essential supplies, Bueno said, adding that such actions contradict international humanitarian law. The number of humanitarian aid convoys that have started to enter the Gaza Strip are insufficient and constitutes only symbolic assistance that has yet to make a substantial, tangible difference, he added.
At present, approximately 100 trucks are being allowed entry into the coastal enclave on a daily basis. The number of convoys and the speed of aid delivery must both increase, and essential items, such as medicine, food, fuel for operating desalination plants and power stations, and other essential needs must be provided, Bueno stressed. More aid, including fuel, must be allowed into the Gaza Strip, and the European Union will continue to exert pressure on Israel to facilitate the flow of additional assistance, he added.
Bueno reiterated the EU’s support for the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for a humanitarian ceasefire and noted that the EU has tripled its humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. The EU itself cannot impose a ceasefire, Bueno said, but the bloc remains committed to doing everything in its power to make a cessation of fighting feasible.
During the EU Summit, held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, leaders from EU member states are discussing this crucial matter, underscoring its significance as the current top priority for the EU.
