EU sees maritime aid corridor to Gaza
CAIRO/LARNACA, Cyprus - The head of the European Commission said on Friday a maritime aid corridor could start operating between Cyprus and Gaza this weekend, part of accelerating Western efforts to relieve the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. Ursula von der Leyen’s comments came a day after President Joe Biden announced plans for the US military to build a “temporary pier” on Gaza’s Mediterranean coast, amid UN warnings of famine among the territory’s 2.3 million people.
Negotiations on a possible ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas, now in its fifth month, remained deadlocked in Cairo, with time running out to reach a truce in time for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin on Sunday.
EU Commission President von der Leyen said a pilot test run of food aid collected by a charity group and supported by the United Arab Emirates could be leaving Cyprus as early as Friday.
“We are launching this Cyprus maritime corridor together, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States,” she said after visiting facilities in Larnaca, Cyprus.
“We are now very close to opening this corridor, hopefully this Saturday-Sunday and I’m very glad to see an initial pilot will be launched today.”
US officials say building the pier described by Mr Biden could take weeks. Meanwhile, hospitals in northern Gaza are already reporting children dying of malnutrition. The UN says opening up more land routes should remain the priority.
“No US boots will be on the ground,” said Mr Biden, who did not indicate where the planned pier might be located. Most of Gaza’s coast is beach and larger ships would be unable to approach it without dredging.
Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said planning for the temporary port system was still in the early stages and would take “likely up to 60 days” to complete, involving some 1000 troops, though none would be deployed ashore.
“It’s going to take time to
build,” British foreign minister David Cameron told reporters, adding that Israel should open its port at Ashdod north of Gaza for more aid deliveries in the meantime.
Some aid agencies say discussions of elaborate air and sea routes to bring aid into Gaza are a distraction when Israel is restricting existing access routes by land.
“There’s an easier, more efficient way of bringing in assistance and that is via the road crossings that connect Israel with Gaza,” said Juliette Touma, spokesperson for UNRWA, the UN relief agency for the Palestinians.
Michael Fakhri, a UN special rapporteur on the right to food, told reporters in Geneva, it was “absurd” that Washington was discussing complicated new routes to reach a territory blockaded by its own ally.
“From a humanitarian perspective, from an international perspective, from a human rights perspective, it is absurd in a dark, cynical way,” he said.
Israel says it is not blocking aid through two checkpoints on the southern edge of Gaza, and blames UN and other agencies for failing to transport and deliver enough of it.
Humanitarian agencies say that is nearly impossible in a war zone, and Israel is responsible for ensuring safe access.
Hassan Maslah, a displaced Palestinian from Khan Younis now sheltering in Rafah, said instead of promising to build a new port, Washington should stop arming Israel.
“All these American weapons are killing our kids, and killing us wherever we go.”