Debate: Humanitarian situation in Gaza, the need to reach a ceasefire and the risks of regional escalation
Date: TUESDAY, 16 JANUARY 2024
Speaker: Janez Lenarčič
Language: EN

The number of civilian casualties in Gaza, including a very high proportion of children, is unacceptable. The protection of civilians is of utmost importance, and Israel must do more to exercise maximum restraint. Respect for international humanitarian law is imperative and non-negotiable. This is a message that we consistently pass to Israel, and Hamas must release all hostages without preconditions. While Israel maintains its military objectives to destroy Hamas, with 60% of housing stock and infrastructure destroyed, humanitarian actors already describe Gaza as an unliveable place. A new humanitarian pause is needed now. The situation is worsening by the day, with 85% of the population now being displaced, often living in the open and facing the risk of famine and disease. The EU is doing its part to contribute to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, with more than EUR 100 million in humanitarian aid in 2023. There have been some positive steps like the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing, but clearly more is needed. Humanitarian aid and access need to be considerably scaled up. Humanitarian actors, including the United Nations, whose role is central to the relief effort, need to be given unfettered access across Gaza, including the north. The war has regional consequences at the border between Israel and Lebanon, but also in the Red Sea and in Iraq and Syria. Efforts must continue to prevent further escalation, and the EU and its partners will continue to be actively engaged in this end. The fragile situation in the West Bank only adds to the risk of spillover. In 2023, and since the beginning of this year, we have seen unprecedented levels of extremist settler attacks, forced displacement of Palestinian communities and extensive movement restrictions. The Palestinian economy is also hampered by Israel withholding Palestinian tax revenues. In any future scenario for the day after, the Palestinian Authority must be reinvigorated and ultimately return to Gaza. They are ready for this, but a lot of help is needed. The EU will continue to play its part. In December 2023, the Commission adopted a EUR 118.4 million assistance package to support the Palestinian Authority. A larger midterm package will be put forward in 2024. This will aim to convey support to the Palestinian Authority and lay the ground for longer-term economic and political stability in Gaza and in the West Bank. Amid the humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza, UNRWA and other UN agencies are playing a crucial role in facing enormous challenges. I wish to pay tribute to their staff, who do irreplaceable, lifesaving work at great risk to their own lives. We frontloaded the 2023 EU contribution to UNRWA in February last year. We hope to do the same in 2024, and we have encouraged Arab and Gulf partners to increase their contributions. Altogether, we provided almost EUR 110 million in funding to UNRWA in 2023, including a top up of EUR 10 million last November to help UNRWA face the enormous challenges in Gaza. And a substantial increase in our humanitarian support: quadrupled to over EUR 100 million in total last year. As already mentioned, even higher levels of humanitarian aid are being mobilised for this year. To conclude, the EU is firmly committed to work on multiple parallel tracks, stepping up humanitarian assistance, preventing regional spillover of the conflict and working towards a peaceful two-state solution. I am looking forward to our discussion.