Switzerland and EU countries denounce famine in Gaza

(Image d’illustration)Keystone

Switzerland and the countries of the European Union have called to act urgently to put an end to the kid in Gaza, while Egypt has announced working with the mediators for a truce.

Switzerland, the European Union and 23 other countries denounced on Tuesday a situation of “famine” in Gaza. The EU and 24 countries, in a joint statement, urged Israel to “authorize all humanitarian aid for international NGOs and to remove the obstacles that prevent humanitarian workers from intervening”.

“Switzerland has joined other states in a declaration expressing its deep concern in the face of new registration restrictions imposed on NGOs, which could force essential humanitarian actors to leave the occupied Palestinian territories, thus aggravating the crisis in Gaza”, writes the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) on X.

The declaration calls for “safe and large-scale access to humanitarian aid, the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers, a sustainable cease-fire and the release of all hostages,” he adds.

France, but not Germany

The statement is signed by EU Kaja Kallas diplomacy and foreign ministers in countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and Australia. There are in particular 17 EU member states, including France, but not Germany.

The UN has been warning for weeks against a risk of “generalized famine” in this area. For its part, an organization dependent on the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the COGAT, published a new report on Tuesday claiming that “there is no sign of generalized malnutrition phenomenon” in the Palestinian territory.

Hamas delegation in Cairo

In this context, Egypt announced Tuesday to work “actively” with Qatar and the United States for a 60-day cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian sources close to the file said that a delegation from Hamas led by its chief negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, was expected on Tuesday or Wednesday in Cairo to meet Egyptian officials.

According to one of these sources, “the mediators are in the process of formulating a new proposal for a global cease-fire agreement”, providing for the release, “in one go”, of all the hostages still retained in Gaza.

“Demilitarize” Gaza

In Gaza, civil defense announced the death of 33 Palestinians on Tuesday. “The bombing has been extremely intense for two days. Each shot, the ground trembles. There are martyrs under the rubble that no one can reach because the shots has not stopped, “testified Majed al-Hossary, a resident of Zeitoun.

For its part, Israel approved a plan on Friday to take control of the city of Gaza and neighboring refugee camps. Benjamin Netanyahu also said on Sunday that Israel militarily controlled “70 to 75%” of the Gaza Strip and that it remained to take the city of Gaza as well as sectors of the center of the territory.

(ats/acu)