European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Monday that the EU was increasing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, according to Politico.
I can announce that we are further increasing the humanitarian aid to Gaza by another €25 million.
Von der Leyen stated that “two weeks ago we had already tripled our aid to Gaza.” Including the new announcement, EU spending on humanitarian aid to Gaza this year will exceed 100 million euros.
Israel struck the heavily populated Gaza Strip in response to the October 7 Hamas surprise attack, in which 1,400 people were killed and 240 taken hostage. Gaza health authorities report that more than 9,770 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since then.
Israel is facing mounting international pressure to limit civilian casualties after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected growing calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, claiming it would not happen without the return of hostages.
In her speech, von der Leyen, who has been criticised for not publicly calling on Israel to follow international military law, stressed that “while Israel has the right to fight Hamas, it is also essential that it strives to avoid civilian casualties.”
EU leaders emphasised the need for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population at a recent meeting. At the same conference, EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell emphasised the need to apply international law and avoid civilian casualties.
On October 7, Hamas announced Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel. The group’s militants then infiltrated into Israel and started launching rockets from the Gaza Strip.
In response, Israel launched Operation Iron Sword, carrying out a total siege of the Gaza Strip and conducting aerial strikes.
