EU urges Israel to reopen Gaza crossings as winter conditions worsen

In a statement issued on Saturday by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the bloc said severe flooding and winter conditions were worsening living conditions in Gaza. It urged Israel to allow the sustained distribution of aid and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work.

The EU said access restrictions had contributed to shortages of shelter, medicine and medical equipment. On Friday, the Humanitarian Country Team, which brings together UN agencies and aid organisations, said more than 150,000 tents bought by humanitarian partners and member states were outside Gaza and ready for dispatch. It said funding had fallen far short of what was needed and that Israeli approval requirements and limited crossing capacity were delaying supplies.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected accusations that Israel was delaying winter supplies on 11 November, before the EU statement. He blamed Hamas and alleged that the group seized aid for military use. The Associated Press reported that he gave no evidence for the seizure claim.

The EU also described the recent air strike on Nasser Hospital as “deeply alarming” and said civilians, medical personnel and facilities must be protected under international law.