EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war, an accusation Israel's foreign minister rejected.
Josep Borrell © Mena Today
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war, an accusation Israel's foreign minister rejected.
"In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people," Borrell said at the opening of a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels.
"This is unacceptable. Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine."
Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz in a response urged Borrell to "stop attacking Israel and recognize our right to self-defense against Hamas' crimes".
Katz in a post on X said Israel allowed "extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help", but that help was "violently disturbed" by Hamas militants with "collaboration" by the U.N.'s aid agency UNRWA.
Since October 7th, Josep Borrell has continuously made hostile statements towards Israel.
This raises questions about his political stance in the conflict.
Borrell is supposed to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the European Union. More balance on his part is imperative.
Many member countries are irritated by his constant hostile statements towards Israel.
There is no famine in Gaza. Nearly 200 trucks enter the enclave every day. This is not enough, and an increase is planned while ensuring that aid does not fall into the hands of the Hamas.
Reporting by Nette Nostlinger, Dan Williams and Mena Today
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