European Union Heads of Mission visit Gaza

The EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah visited Gaza yesterday, in its first joint visit since 2016.
In its first visit since 2016, EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem & Ramallah visited Gaza today and met w/ reps of Palestinian civil society, private sector, intl. organizations, the European Hospital & the EU-funded small-scale desalination plant https://t.co/3Wo6c13RiJ pic.twitter.com/xhQBUjUkrO
— EU and Palestinians (@EUpalestinians) December 8, 2020
In their visit, they met with representatives of Palestinian civil society and the private sector as well as with international organizations.
The visit, which was organized in full respect of the heightened health restrictions of Covid-19, aims to “demonstrate the EU’s support to the people of Gaza who are suffering from Gaza’s closure, intra-Palestinian division, and the severe implications of the Covid-19 pandemic,” as the EU said in a statement.
The group of European diplomats also visited the European Hospital in Rafah, in which the 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.
“Gaza remains a priority for the EU and its Member States. Here in Gaza we are not just facing a humanitarian crisis, here we are facing political challenges that have been left unaddressed far too long,” European Union Representative Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff said.
He added, “Almost two million people are living under Gaza’s closure for the last 13 years and paying the heavy price of Palestine’s internal division. Generations of young men and women are losing hope, waiting for solutions that still need to be found.”
He noted then the harsh reality which People in Gaza live in with Covid-19.
“With Covid-19, the harsh reality for the people of Gaza is quickly deteriorating and all duty bearers should act now and respect their obligations under international law.”