European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday the potential opening of a maritime route from Cyprus to Gaza this weekend, aimed at delivering crucial humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The initiative to establish a maritime aid corridor is in response to the escalating crisis in Gaza, where 2.3 million residents are facing severe hunger, particularly in the northern part of the region which has been cut off by Israeli blockades, disrupting food supplies for extended periods.
In a related statement, the UN‘s top human rights official, Volker Turk, criticized Israel’s ongoing settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, labeling it as a violation of international law and a potential war crime due to the transfer of its civilian population into these areas.
Turk expressed concerns that such actions could jeopardize the feasibility of a sovereign Palestinian state.
The conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza reporting over 30,000 Palestinians killed and more than 70,000 injured since the onset of the Israeli offensive.
Israeli sources account for approximately 1,140 fatalities and 250 hostages from the attacks on October 7, with 132 individuals still unaccounted for.
The Prime Ministers of Spain and Ireland jointly called on the EU to urgently review Israel’s compliance with human rights obligations in Gaza.
With mounting international pressure to deter an assault on the densely-populated southern city of Rafah, the leaders, along with Belgium, voiced deep concerns about the situation.
Describing an attack on Rafah as a “grave and imminent threat,” the prime ministers stressed the urgent need for the international community to address the escalating situation.
In a joint letter published on the Spanish government website, they also emphasized the importance of recalling the events of October 7, urging an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostage
