2024-05-07 15:26:00
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell rings a bell to start a meeting of EU foreign and development ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium, on May 7, to discuss humanitarian aspects and reconstruction in Gaza. (Credit: Virginia Mayo/AP)
The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, joined this Tuesday in the growing criticism against the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, for ignoring international demands against an attack on Rafah, which has become a new focal point in the seven months’ war.
Although Hamas accepted a draft ceasefire agreement, Netanyahu vowed to press ahead with an assault on the city. Israeli forces have taken control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing, a key entry point for aid to Gaza on the border with Egypt.
The move is unrelated to Netanyahu’s threatened large-scale operation in Rafah, but Borrell described it as offensive.
“The offensive ground against Rafah has started again, despite all requests from the international community (the United States, the member states of the European Union), all asking Netanyahu not to attack Rafah,” said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. he said in a briefing on Tuesday.
“Despite these warnings and requests, the attack started last night. I fear that this will again cause many victims, civilian victims, no matter what they say. There are 600,000 children in Gaza. They will be forced to return. So-called ‘safe zones’: there are no safe zones in Gaza.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) head of operations in Gaza, Suze van Meegen, made similar comments, telling CNN: “Not only is there nowhere safe to go, but for many people there is no way get there either.”
Borrell also described the lack of agreement on a ceasefire as “sad news,” adding: “Hamas accepted, Israel refused.”
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