The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said yesterday, Tuesday, that the Israeli war on Gaza exposed the cities of the Strip to “greater destruction than the cities of Germany were exposed to during World War II,” while the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) confirmed that “It will take years to remove the debris” resulting from the ongoing Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, and she stressed, “The ceasefire is the only hope remaining” to save the residents of the Gaza Strip, while Qatar affirmed its commitment to mediation efforts in the crisis, while Egypt warned Israel against invading Rafah and demanded By taking deterrent measures
Borrell said, during a speech he delivered at a plenary session of the European Parliament in the French city of Strasbourg: More than 60% of the infrastructure in Gaza was damaged, of which 35% was completely destroyed, noting that 249 humanitarian workers have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza. Borrell called on Israel to “respect international law, implement the interim measures of the International Court of Justice, and ensure the protection of all civilians.”
On the other hand, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Mohammed Al-Ansari stressed that his country is committed to mediation efforts in the Gaza crisis, but is currently in a re-evaluation phase, calling for a halt to the expected Israeli attack on Rafah. He stated, “There is a state of frustration among the mediators due to the failure to reach an agreement in The month of Ramadan,” pointing out, “We must all work to stop the expected Israeli attack on Rafah and stop the war itself.” In turn, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri called on Israel not to take any military measures in Rafah, against the backdrop of statements about the invasion of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
Shukri said during a press conference with his Irish counterpart yesterday: There must be the ability to take deterrent steps against Israel if it invades Rafah. Shukri added that the global conscience cannot tolerate the continuation of this scale of killing in Gaza, which has reached 34,000 dead. Among them are 20,000 women and children, and the ongoing state of destruction of the Strip continues, making it unlivable.
Shukri stressed the need to stop this war and work to end it, and to establish a framework that leads to ending the conflict through the efforts currently being made by countries to end the conflict by establishing a Palestinian state, which must be supported by all partners and the international community. (agencies)