On Wednesday 15 May, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, urged Israel to end its military operation in Rafah, lamenting the fact that it is further disrupting the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and leading to increased internal displacement, exposure to famine and human suffering.
“The European Union is calling on Israel to refrain from further exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and reopen the crossing point of Rafah. Should Israel continue its military operation in Rafah, it would inevitably put a heavy strain on the EU’s relationship with Israel”, said Mr Borrell in a statement, also condemning the attack claimed by Hamas on the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday 5 May.
Since the start of the Israeli operation on 7 May (see EUROPE 13408/7), no more humanitarian aid has entered through Rafah - with Egypt and Israel each passing the responsibility - or at the Kerem Shalom crossing. Nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
On Wednesday 15 May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed fears of a “humanitarian catastrophe” at Rafah. “Our responsible efforts are bearing fruit”, he said in a statement, adding that “up till now, in Rafah, nearly half a million people have been evacuated from the combat zones”. According to him, “the humanitarian disaster that was mentioned has not happened and will not happen”. He said that Israeli forces were fighting throughout the Gaza Strip, “while evacuating the civilian population and respecting [Israel’s] commitment to meet its humanitarian needs”. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)