EU commissioner denied entry to Gaza by Israel during Egypt visit

EU Commissioner for Equality and Acting Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib disclosed on Friday that Israeli authorities denied her permission to enter the Gaza Strip during her diplomatic visit to Egypt. Lahbib expressed profound disappointment at the decision, noting she had intended to cross through the Rafah border crossing to personally assess the humanitarian situation in the besieged territory, which she described as having become "a graveyard for thousands."

Humanitarian Crisis and Casualty Figures

The commissioner highlighted the ongoing severity of the situation in Gaza, revealing that since the beginning of the recent ceasefire period, 347 Palestinians, including 67 children, have lost their lives. She emphasized that the approaching winter threatens to create disastrous conditions for displaced Palestinians who lack adequate shelter and warmth. Lahbib also noted the extreme dangers facing humanitarian workers, with approximately 600 aid personnel killed in what she characterized as "the most dangerous place in the world" for humanitarian operations.

Ceasefire and Aid Delivery Challenges

Lahbib stressed that full compliance with the ceasefire agreement and respect for international law represent the only viable path to civilian protection. While acknowledging that some aid has begun reaching Gaza's population, she described current delivery levels as meeting only "a very small portion of the need." The commissioner criticized Israel's classification of basic humanitarian items like tents and sleeping bags as "dual-use" materials, calling the practice unacceptable and urging faster approval procedures for humanitarian organizations.

Diplomatic Engagements and Reconstruction Vision

During her Egypt visit, Lahbib toured humanitarian facilities in El Arish, including warehouses filled with aid awaiting shipment to Gaza and hospitals treating patients evacuated from the enclave. She thanked Egyptian authorities for their mediation efforts while calling for a transition from the current "survival mode" in Gaza to a reconstruction phase that would transform the "sea of rubble back into homes and schools." The commissioner also emphasized the EU's responsibility to ensure taxpayer-funded assistance reaches those in need.