The EU on Wednesday called on Israel to open additional crossings besides the Cyprus maritime corridor so that more aid can reach Gaza.
Josep Borrell © Mena Today
The EU on Wednesday called on Israel to open additional crossings besides the Cyprus maritime corridor so that more aid can reach Gaza.
"While supporting the Cyprus maritime corridor, we call on Israel to open additional crossings so more aid can reach Gaza, including the North, and to ease overall customs restrictions", EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic said on social media platform X.
The statement came after Lenarcic virtually met with Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Minister David Cameron, UAE Foreign Affairs Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Qatari Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulrahman Al Thani and U.N. Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag.
"Israel must prioritize civilian protection and humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip as its 'number one' priority," said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
"We expect the Israeli government to make this issue a priority. Protecting civilians, providing people with the assistance they need, that's what should be the number one priority, even as they do what is necessary to defend the country and address the threat posed by Hamas," Blinken told the press.
The U.S. Secretary of State also met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell at the State Department headquarters.
Borrell on Tuesday denounced the use of hunger "as a weapon of war" in Gaza, a statement that Blinken did not endorse, emphasizing that Israel allows "food to enter."
This is not the first time Borrell has made hostile statements towards Israel. The EU official's remarks are irresponsible and do not meet the standards of his position.
Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Mena Today
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