EU says Gaza siege 'unacceptable'
Maan News, Palestine, June 15th 2010
The EU said Israel's Gaza blockade is "is unacceptable and politically counterproductive" and called on Israel to immediately lift the siege in accordance with UN resolutions demanding the unhindered opening of all crossings.
A statement issued after the EU Council meeting on Monday in Luxembourg said the situation in Gaza "remains unsustainable," calling for an immediate and sustained opening of all crossings for "for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza including goods from the West Bank."
The body said it was ready to contribute to the implementation of a mechanism based on the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access that would permit the reconstruction of Gaza and the revival of its economy, which the Palestinian Authority further demanded Israel implement during its weekly cabinet meeting.
The concluding statement said the EU Council "calls for a solution that addresses Israel's legitimate security concerns including a complete stop to all violence and arms smuggling into Gaza," adding it "deplores the continuing acts of rocket fire."
The council further called for the immediate release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, currently held in Gaza, and urged Hamas to "unconditionally allow ICRC access and end its interference with the operations of NGOs and UN agencies in Gaza."
Concerning the deadly flotilla raid launched by Israel against a Gaza-bound aid vessel which saw at least nine killed, the EU said it condemned the use of violence and "believes an immediate, full and impartial inquiry into these events and the circumstance surrounding them is essential," as Israel announced that two international observers would be invited to participate in its internal probe of the assault.
"To command the confidence of the international community this should include credible international participation," the statement read.
Proximity talks between Palestinian and Israeli officials should continue with "the view to the resumption of direct negotiations," the EU said, and called on President Mahmoud Abbas to "accelerate" Palestinian reconciliation.
The EU added its voice to a growing chorus of demands that Israel immediately lift its blockade of Gaza, as world condemnation shifted from denouncing Israel's attack on the humanitarian aid convoy to its government's ongoing closure policy.