High Representative of the Union Kaja Kallas urged Israel to allow the passage of goods into Gaza at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank on Saturday 27 September.
The crossing was closed after an attack by a man in a humanitarian aid truck killed two Israeli soldiers on 18 September, an attack condemned by Ms Kallas. Israel announced the reopening of access for persons as of 26 September.
“The Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing, as with other border crossings, should remain open for an effective humanitarian response. About one quarter of humanitarian relief items entering Gaza through the UN 2720 mechanism comes via Jordan”, said the High Representative in a statement on behalf of the EU.
“The European Union (EU) calls on Israel to take immediate and effective measures to increase the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza”, added Ms Kallas, saying that the Israeli ground offensive in Gaza City was greatly aggravating an “already catastrophic and unsustainable” humanitarian situation, resulting in “appalling” civilian losses and suffering. She recalled that full respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, was an obligation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)