Gaza Herald_ The EU Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said she had intended to enter Gaza during her visit to Egypt, but Israel rejected her request to cross. She made the remarks on Friday at the Rafah crossing.
She noted that Palestinians continue to be killed daily by the Israeli army, explaining that 347 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began, including 67 children.
On October 10, the first phase of the agreement came into effect, following a genocidal war waged by Israel—with U.S. support, on Gaza for two years since October 2023.
She added that she had planned to cross the border to see the situation in Gaza for herself, but Israel did not grant her entry permission, which saddened her deeply. She pointed out that Gaza has turned into a graveyard for thousands of civilians, including aid workers.
Not only that, but she said that around 600 aid workers had been killed while trying to save lives in one of the most dangerous places on earth. She added that thousands of families in Gaza are living among the rubble without shelter or protection from the coming winter cold, warning that experts expect a catastrophic winter.
She reaffirmed the need to maintain the ceasefire and comply with international law as the only way to protect civilians.
Furthermore, she said that it is necessary to move from the first phase to the second, which includes disarming Hamas and returning the remaining captives.
She pointed out that some aid has begun to reach Palestinians in Gaza, but it is insufficient, stressing the need to open all crossings.
The Israeli war of extermination in Gaza has left more than 69,000 dead and 170,000 wounded Palestinians, most of them children and women, as well as massive destruction with reconstruction costs estimated by the United Nations at around $70 billion.
