The EU warns Israel of consequences for relations if it does not immediately end its military operation in Rafah

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BRUSSELS, May 15. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The European Union has demanded this Wednesday that Israel immediately end its military operation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, warning that if it does not back down and continues with its ground attack there will be “strong tension” in relations. between the block and Tel Aviv.

“The EU urges Israel to end its military operation in Rafah immediately. This operation is further disrupting the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and leading to more internal displacement, causing more hunger and suffering,” the High Representative said in a statement. of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell.

“If Israel continues its military operation in Rafah, this would inevitably lead to strong tension in the EU’s relationship with Israel,” warns the head of community diplomacy after reiterating that the Israeli operation leads to a worsening of the humanitarian situation and causes more internal displacement in Gaza.

In this sense, European diplomacy calls on Israel to “refrain from further aggravating the already serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and reopen the Rafah border crossing.”

He regrets the forced evacuation of the Palestinian population in Rafah, where 1.4 million Palestinians were concentrated before the Israeli offensive, and emphasizes that the United Nations does not recognize any area of ​​the Strip as a ‘safe zone’ for displaced people.

Thus, the European bloc considers that Israel “must allow and facilitate the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid for civilians,” remembering that it must comply with the resolutions of the International Court of Justice and condemns the Hamas attack on the border crossing in Kerem Shalom, which makes the delivery of humanitarian aid even more difficult.

The EU closes its message by sending a request to Israel and Hamas to “redouble their efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire” that also includes the unconditional release of all the hostages taken by the Islamist group in the framework of the attacks of September 7. October.