In a statement issued on Wednesday 3 April, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, and the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law and protect humanitarian workers.
“We recall the Israeli obligation under International Humanitarian Law to protect humanitarian workers at all times. A high number of humanitarian workers have lost their lives since the beginning of the war in Gaza”, said the High Representative and the European Commissioner on Wednesday.
On Monday 1 April, seven volunteers from the American NGO World Central Kitchen, including Western nationals, were killed in Israeli army strikes, sparking outrage in the international community (see EUROPE 13382/3).
On Wednesday, the head of the Israeli General Staff, Herzi Halevi, acknowledged a “serious mistake”, referring to a “misidentification” of the humanitarian convoy in “very complex conditions”, according to AFP.
Mr Borrell and Mr Lenarčič also reiterated their call for an immediate ceasefire, with reference to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, passed on Monday 25 March, and for the “full, immediate and effective” implementation of the provisional measures adopted at the end of March by the International Court of Justice, which compel Israel to cooperate to allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)