The European Commission (EC) will immediately increase the current aid package provided for residents of Gaza by 50 million euros, bringing the total amount of support to more than 75 million euros, EC head Ursula von der Leyen said after negotiations with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
“We will continue our close cooperation with the UN and its agencies to ensure that this assistance reaches those who need it in the Gaza Strip. The Commission supports Israel’s right to protection from Hamas terrorists in full respect for international humanitarian law. We are making every effort to provide support to innocent civilians in Gaza in this context.” quotes von der Leyen EC website.
European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčić also said that the EC is “doing everything in its power to provide humanitarian support to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.” He said tripling EU humanitarian aid would help ensure that civilians were provided with basic necessities.
On October 10, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the European Union would not stop sending financial assistance to Palestine.
On October 7, the Palestinian group Hamas began military operations against Israel. The Israeli Army (IDF) responded by launching Operation Iron Swords, and the Israeli government announced that the country had entered a state of war. 10 October Council of the European Union called open humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of the population to Egypt. Borrell also stressed the need to increase humanitarian assistance to all those affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
More than 3,000 people died on both sides during the conflict. According to the latest data, at least 2,329 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, and about 9,000 people were injured.
