EU commissioner calls for aid to 'flood Gaza,' not enter 'drop by drop'

European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib has urgently called for a significant increase in the pace of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, stating assistance must "flood" the territory rather than trickle in. Speaking to reporters in Brussels ahead of an EU foreign ministers' meeting on Monday, Lahbib warned of immense needs and the approaching winter.

Firsthand Account from Rafah Crossing

Lahbib recounted her experience at the Rafah border crossing two weeks prior, where she was denied entry into Gaza. She observed hundreds of trucks loaded with essential supplies stalled and waiting. "The humanitarian workers I met there were frustrated and exhausted by the situation," she said, attributing the delays to "a lot of administrative burden." Despite a ceasefire that began on October 10, Israel's continued strict restrictions on aid truck entries have prevented any meaningful improvement in living conditions for Gaza's civilian population, violating the truce's humanitarian protocols.

Catastrophic Context and International Calls

The urgent appeal for unimpeded aid comes within the context of a catastrophic humanitarian situation. Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have resulted in nearly 70,700 fatalities, predominantly women and children, and over 171,100 injuries, with violence continuing despite the ceasefire. Lahbib's stark assessment aligns with repeated calls from Türkiye and numerous international bodies for an immediate, permanent ceasefire and the lifting of all barriers to life-saving aid, emphasizing that the current trickle of assistance is wholly insufficient to address the scale of the man-made disaster.