Sanctions against Israel remain on the table: EU official
Foreign ministers of EU countries are meeting in Luxembourg to discuss a range of issues, including the situation in Gaza.
Before the meeting, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, was asked about sanctions the bloc was putting forward against Israeli officials as well as trade restrictions to pressure Israel.
“The situation has changed considering the developments last week,” Kallas told reporters. “But we will discuss with the foreign ministers. These measures are on the table. The question is what the foreign ministers decide to do with them.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said all crossings into Gaza need to be opened to allow aid to enter. He also called on all parties to the ceasefire to “strictly respect the commitments made in the agreement”.
Ireland’s FM calls for immediate opening of Rafah crossing
Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Harris, has called for the Rafah crossing to be opened for aid “as an absolute priority” and called on both Hamas and Israel to adhere to the ceasefire terms.
Speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, Harris said “it is important that the ceasefire holds,” adding that “we all know how difficult it was to get to this point.
“I think we need to see an increase in the amount of aid getting into Gaza, we need to see the Rafah crossing opened as an absolute priority.”
EU official urges ‘full access for humanitarian aid’ in Gaza
Hadja Lahbib, the European commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, has urged Israel to open all border crossings to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians.
“We have seen in these recent days how the ceasefire is fragile. Humanitarian aid is again taken hostage,” she said at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg. “We need to have full access for humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
“All the crossing points must be open,” she said, adding that while the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has increased, it remains “far from the 600 trucks that was promised”.
