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EU’s Borrell condemns the use of starvation as a weapon against Gaza

November 26, 2024 at 2:01 pm

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell at headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in New York, United States on September 25, 2024 [Arda Küçükkaya/Anadolu Agency]

EU Foreign Policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned the use of starvation as a weapon against Palestinians trapped in northern Gaza.

“Starvation is being used as a weapon against people left alone in northern Gaza,” he said in a statement, highlighting the dire situation.

He added, “Humanitarian aid is not reaching Gaza, and the United Nations is unable to provide support.” He pointed out that conditions in Gaza are even more severe than in Lebanon, with 250,000 people in northern Gaza left to suffer without assistance.

The European official further questioned why the international community has not brought the issue of humanitarian aid for Gaza before the UN Security Council.

He urged EU member states to fulfil their responsibilities and enforce the International Criminal Court’s decision to arrest Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has also confirmed today that the food supplies entering the Gaza Strip meet only six per cent of people’s needs.

Northern Gaza is enduring especially harsh conditions, said UNRWA, with a critical shortage of drinking water, medicines and food supplies. The continued blockade on humanitarian aid, coupled with ongoing air strikes, artillery shelling, land levelling and demolitions has deepened the humanitarian crisis.

The Israeli occupation army has continued its aggressive war on Gaza for 415 consecutive days. At least 44,000 Palestinians have been killed, with 105,000 wounded, mainly women and children. An estimated 11,000 more people are missing, presumed dead, under the rubble of their homes and other civilian infrastructure destroyed by the occupation forces.

READ: UNRWA warns of deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza amid winter storms