The EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah visited Gaza today and met with representatives of Palestinian civil society and the private sector as well as with international organizations. The group of more than twenty European diplomats visited also the European Hospital in Rafah and the EU-funded small-scale desalination plant near Deir Al Balah.

This is the first joint visit of EU Heads of Mission to Gaza since 2016.

At the European hospital in Rafah, representatives of the World Health Organization and Palestinian doctors briefed the EU diplomats about the unprecedented challenges the health sector faces as a result of the high Covid-19 infection rate in Gaza.

The diplomats then visited the EU-funded small-scale desalination plant near Deir Al Balah. Representatives of UNICEF and the Palestinian Water Authority informed about the project which will benefit around 250,000 people upon its completion. The diplomats were also briefed about the plans for the Gaza Central Desalination Plant that will provide clean water for the whole population of Gaza, once completed.

The group concluded the visit by meeting representatives of the Palestinian civil society and private sector in Gaza. They explained to the diplomats the dramatic socio-economic consequences of Covid-19, a situation that is significantly exacerbated by Israel’s closure of the Gaza strip as well as the problems caused by the intra-Palestinian division.

The EU is committed to facilitating the social and economic development of the Gaza Strip and encourages efforts towards reconciliation as an indispensable element for the viability of the future independent, viable and democratic Palestinian state.

The EU continues to call for the immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from the Gaza Strip.

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Press Release

The Office of the European Union Representative (West Bank and Gaza Strip, UNRWA)