DaysofPal – European Union Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management Hadjia Lahbib revealed on Friday that she had planned to enter the Gaza Strip during her visit to Egypt, but Israel refused her request to cross. Lahbib made the remarks during a press briefing at the Rafah crossing.
She noted that Palestinians “continue to be killed daily by the Israeli military,” stating that 347 Palestinians, including 67 children, have been killed since the start of the ceasefire.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement came into effect on October 10, following two years of a devastating Israeli military campaign on Gaza that began in October 2023 with U.S. support.
Lahbib said she had hoped to cross the border to witness the situation in Gaza firsthand, but Israel’s refusal to grant her entry “deeply saddened” her. She described Gaza as having become “a graveyard for thousands of civilians, including humanitarian workers.”
Approximately 600 aid workers have died while trying to save lives in “one of the most dangerous places on Earth,” she said.
She warned that thousands of families in Gaza are now living amid rubble, without shelter or protection from the approaching winter, and that experts are predicting a “catastrophic winter.”
The EU official reiterated the need to maintain the ceasefire and uphold international law, calling it the only way to protect civilians.
Lahbib said the second phase of the agreement must follow, which includes disarming Hamas and releasing the remaining captives.
She acknowledged that some aid is beginning to reach Palestinians in Gaza but stressed it remains insufficient, emphasizing the urgency of opening all crossings to allow for humanitarian relief.
The ceasefire is still being broken by the Israeli military. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israel has committed around 497 violations since October 10, resulting in the killing of more than 342 Palestinians as of last Saturday.
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