European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that there is deep concern regarding a possible Israeli attack on the city of Rafah, emphasizing that it must be avoided and that reaching a swift agreement on a ceasefire to allow more humanitarian aid to reach the area is of critical importance.
Von der Leyen spoke at a press conference following her meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a trip to Egypt with the leaders of Italy, Austria, Belgium, and the Republic of Cyprus.
Addressing the situation in Gaza, von der Leyen said, "We are all extremely concerned about the war in Gaza and the resulting catastrophic humanitarian situation."
Stating that "Gaza is facing famine. We cannot accept this," von der Leyen added, "It is critical to reach a swift agreement on a ceasefire that will release the hostages and allow more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza."
Von der Leyen emphasized that she appreciates Sisi for his personal efforts to secure such a ceasefire, stating, "We are also deeply concerned about the risks that a large-scale attack on Rafah would pose to the vulnerable civilian population. This (a possible attack on Rafah) must be avoided at all costs."
''THE EU IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN''
Thanking Egypt for its "extraordinary" efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza, von der Leyen noted the following:
"The EU is doing everything it can to provide much-needed aid. We know that Gaza needs 500 trucks or an equivalent amount of aid per day by land, air, and sea. The EU will provide 275 million euros in aid to Palestinians this year alone. We have delivered over 1,800 tons of aid to Egypt, including medical equipment, and we are ensuring that this aid reaches Gaza through all possible routes. This includes our newly opened maritime corridor in Cyprus."
News Source: AA
