European Parliament President Roberta Metsola crossed into the Gaza Strip from Israel at noon Thursday to “witness firsthand the humanitarian assistance delivery at the border region,” her office told POLITICO.
Palestinian militant group Hamas reached a deal with Israel in mid-January to bring a cease-fire to the Gaza Strip and release dozens of hostages following 16 months of retaliatory onslaughts by Israel to the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, which have ravaged the region and killed tens of thousands of people.
“Her crossing of the border at a crucial moment in time is meant to highlight the EU’s critical role in supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza (notably through the EUBAM operation) and the EU’s commitment to continue supporting the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal,” Metsola’s office added.
EUBAM is the European Union Border Assistance Mission. Metsola entered from the Kerem Shalom border crossing, after which she returned to Israel for a briefing by EUBAM on their mission at the Rafah crossing and on their ongoing efforts to support humanitarian aid in Gaza.
According to her office, Metsola is the first EU leader to enter Gaza in more than 10 years.
On Friday she will visit Ramallah in the West Bank, where she will meet with Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general for the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organization.
She will also meet with Sakharov Prize nominee Reem Al Hajajra — director of the Women of the Sun NGO, a Palestinian group working toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
European Parliament president enters Gaza
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