EU’s Foreign Policy High Representative, Josep Borrell, has condemned the deteriorating conditions in the Gaza Strip, likening it to a “graveyard under the open sky”.
Speaking ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Borrell remarked that Gaza, once described as the largest open-air prison, has now become a symbol of humanitarian devastation, with thousands of lives affected and basic principles of humanitarian law violated.
Borrell’s condemnation echoes sentiments expressed earlier at a European forum on humanitarian aid, where he emphasised that Gaza is not merely on the brink of famine but is already grappling with a dire scarcity affecting thousands. Despite the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, Borrell lamented the obstruction faced by humanitarian aid convoys attempting to enter the Gaza Strip, citing prolonged delays due to Israeli authorities’ refusal to grant permission.
Last week, Borrell labelled the situation in Gaza as “unacceptable” during a demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, decrying the use of hunger as a weapon of war.
While EU diplomats gather in Brussels to deliberate on the Gaza crisis, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis tempered expectations, indicating that no significant decisions are anticipated. However, attention is likely to focus on potential sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of violations against Palestinians in the West Bank.