Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Parliament devoted part of the plenary session to discussing the escalation between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement, and European Commissioner Janez Lenares, in charge of the crisis management file, delivered a speech on behalf of European Foreign Policy Coordinator Josep Borrell, in which he said, “More than three months have passed since the start of the Israeli military operation against Hamas, which... Sparked by the horrific terrorist attacks of 7 October, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become dire.
The number of civilian casualties in Gaza, including a very high proportion of children, is unacceptable. The protection of civilians is of the utmost importance and Israel must do more to exercise maximum restraint. Respect for international humanitarian law is imperative and non-negotiable. This is the message that we constantly convey to Israel. Hamas must release all hostages without preconditions.
While Israel maintains its military goals of destroying Hamas, with 60% of housing and infrastructure destroyed, humanitarian actors are already describing Gaza as an unlivable place.
A new humanitarian truce is needed now. The situation is getting worse day by day, as 85% of the population is now displaced, often living in the open and facing the risk of famine and disease.
The European Union is doing its part to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis, with more than €100 million in humanitarian aid in 2023. There have been some positive steps, such as the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, but it is clear that more is needed. Humanitarian aid and access must be dramatically increased. Humanitarian actors, including the United Nations, whose role is essential in relief efforts, must be granted unrestricted access to various parts of Gaza - including the north.
The war has regional consequences, on the border between Israel and Lebanon, but also in the Red Sea, and in Iraq and Syria. Efforts must continue to prevent further escalation, and the European Union and its partners will continue to actively engage to this end.
The fragile situation in the West Bank increases the risk of its spread. In 2023 and since the beginning of this year, we have witnessed unprecedented levels of extremist settler attacks, forced displacement of Palestinian communities, and widespread restrictions on movement. The Palestinian economy is also hampered by Israel's withholding of Palestinian tax revenues.
In any future scenario for the next day, the Palestinian Authority must be reactivated and eventually returned to Gaza. They are ready, but a lot of help is needed. The European Union will continue to do its part.
In December 2023, the Commission approved an aid package worth €118.4 million to support the Palestinian Authority. A larger medium-term package will be rolled out in 2024. This aims to transfer support to the Palestinian Authority and pave the way for long-term economic and political stability in Gaza and the West Bank.
In the midst of the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza, UNRWA and other United Nations agencies are playing a critical role in confronting enormous challenges. I would like to pay tribute to their employees, who do irreplaceable work to save lives at great risk to their own lives. We uploaded the EU's 2023 contribution to UNRWA in February last year. We hope to do the same in 2024, and we have encouraged Arab and Gulf partners to increase their contributions. In total, we have provided nearly €110 million in funding to UNRWA in 2023, including an additional €10 million last November to help UNRWA address the enormous challenges in Gaza, and a significant increase in our humanitarian support – which has quadrupled to more than 100 euros. million last year, as we mentioned previously. Higher levels of humanitarian aid are being mobilized for this year.
In conclusion, the European Union is firmly committed to working on multiple parallel tracks. Intensifying humanitarian aid, preventing the conflict from spreading to the region, and working to reach a peaceful solution based on the existence of two states.