The European Commissioner responsible for Humanitarian Aid, Janez Lenarcic, announced on Monday that the European Union (EU) will continue to help the Palestinians “as long as there is a need”, after the Commissioner for Enlargement announced a suspension. supports.
“While we strongly condemn Hamas’s terrorist attack, it is imperative to protect civilians.”wrote Janez Lenarcic on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The Commissioner for Crisis Management added ‘Humanitarian aid to the Palestinians will continue as long as there is a need for it’.
Although I understand the terrorist attack of… #Hamasit is imperative to protect civilians and respect IHL.
EU humanitarian aid #Palestinians in distress will continue as long as necessary.
– Janez Lenarčič (@JanezLenarcic) October 9, 2023
Janez Lenarcic’s statements came after the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Policy, Oliver Varhelyi, announced early on Monday afternoon the suspension of aid to the Palestinians and the review of all existing projects.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic authorities of several Member States, including Spain, Luxembourg and Ireland, have said that they completely disagree with the decision announced by the European Commission to suspend humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories.
The Islamist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory on Saturday, dubbed Operation ‘Al-Aqsa Storm’, with the launch of thousands of rockets and the incursion of armed militiamen by land, sea and air.
In response to the surprise attack, Israel bombed several Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip from the air, in an operation it dubbed “Iron Swords”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is “at war” with Hamas.
The latest report from the Palestinian Health Ministry records at least 560 deaths from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza – including dozens of minors and women – bringing the total number of deaths on both sides from the armed clashes to more than 1,250. started on Saturday.
Source: DN
