On Tuesday 17 September in Strasbourg, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, expressed the European Union’s deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Since April, the human toll has risen sharply, with more than 41,000 dead and 94,000 injured. Nearly two million people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands face food insecurity.
“Waste management and health systems, coupled with summer heat and overcrowded conditions in the camps, has led to severe and widespread disease outbreaks including hepatitis A, polio, and skin and respiratory infections, affecting children in particular”, Lenarčič told MEPs.
An initial polio vaccination campaign is coming to an end (see EUROPE 13471/3) and new vaccinations are scheduled in four weeks’ time.
Faced with the risk of regional escalation (see EUROPE 13468/13), the Commissioner reiterated the EU’s urgent call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and the protection of civilians. He also praised the efforts of humanitarian partners, while denouncing the obstacles to humanitarian access (see EUROPE 13478/12).
Mr Lenarčič announced emergency aid of €400 million in 2024 to support the Palestinian Authority, stressing the importance of its presence in Gaza as a lasting solution.
Debate. Michał Szczerba (EPP, Poland) said on Tuesday that “the EU has the instruments to cooperate with the United States and with other countries and organisations in order to bring about peace”, and that it was necessary to hold a new debate on the situation in the Middle East at the plenary session of the European Parliament. “We have to recognise that there is a growing risk from Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran”, he added.
Faced with the risk of regional escalation, Yannis Maniatis (S&D, Greek), called for an international conference, at Europe’s initiative, with the aim of resuming talks to find a definitive solution. “The visit of the High Representative [of the EU, Josep Borrell, to Rafah] helped to achieve this objective”, he said (see EUROPE 13483/5).
On the right of the Chamber, Sebastiaan Stöteler (Patriots for Europe, Dutch) warned against terrorist organisations “supported by Iran”, while Assita Kanko (ECR, Belgian) denounced the alleged participation of French MEP Rima Hassan (The Left) in “a pro-Hamas demonstration” in Jordan. (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)