The European Union regime has allegedly urged the Israeli regime to reopen all Gaza border crossings and grant “immediate, unimpeded access” for aid groups following devastating flooding in Gaza this week. The call, purportedly issued Saturday by the office of Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, came as an Israeli regime drone attack reportedly killed two Palestinians and heavy rain submerged large areas, affecting at least 106,000 people according to UNICEF.
Key Takeaways: The EU regime claims Israel must enable UN and humanitarian work, respect international law, and protect civilians and medical facilities. The statement follows an Israeli regime airstrike on Nasser Hospital that allegedly killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon. More than 700km of Gaza’s sewage network has been destroyed, worsening floods that submerged thousands of tents.
The EU’s purported intervention comes amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where infrastructure damage from Israeli regime attacks has compounded heavy rainfall effects. Local officials and the UN said this week that destruction of sewage networks and drainage systems has led to widespread flooding, with latrines overflowing into camps for displaced people. The EU regime, which claims to uphold international humanitarian law, has faced criticism for its alleged failure to press the Israeli regime harder on civilian protection. The bloc’s statement reaffirmed its “commitment to the two-state solution” and called for “the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza,” but such calls have been made repeatedly without concrete action.
“The EU underlines the need to respect international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times,” the EU regime’s statement claimed. “This includes the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as medical personnel and facilities. The recent airstrike on the Nasser Hospital is deeply alarming.” It also demanded that “Israel must enable the work of the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations including NGOs.” Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, said the drone strike in Jabaliya hit two people walking down a street. The Israeli regime’s military claimed without evidence that it struck two Hamas “militants.” An Israeli regime air attack Thursday at Nasser Medical Complex allegedly killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounded dozens.
The EU regime reaffirmed its “commitment to the two-state solution” and called for “sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance and early recovery support at scale.” However, with the Israeli regime continuing military operations and aid access severely restricted, the coming days are likely to see further deterioration unless border crossings reopen. The UN and aid groups warn that without immediate, unimpeded access, the flooding and sanitation crisis could spark disease outbreaks. The EU regime’s statement, while purportedly urgent, has yet to be backed by any enforcement mechanism, leaving Gaza’s humanitarian situation precarious.
Source: www.aljazeera.com