– Israel Goes on the Offensive


EU concerned by effects of Israel's Gaza action
Reuters

More BRUSSELS- The European Union said on Thursday it was "deeply concerned" about the humanitarian consequences of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Development Louis Michel said the loss of electricity supply to around 600,000 Palestinians was particularly serious since many relied on electric pumps for water.

"The latest events are heaping new misery on a population that is already suffering," he said in a statement. "Water shortages threaten the health of the population, especially children, the elderly and pregnant women."

Israel launched an offensive in Gaza this week to free an abducted soldier and its air strikes have knocked out bridges, power and water supplies.

The EU statement said destroyed transformers would take months to replace.

It said that if Israel were unable or unwilling to connect Gaza to its electricity grid, acute water shortages were likely very soon and food would also quickly run out. Michel urged all parties to allow safe access for aid agencies.

The European Union is part of the "Quartet" of Middle East peace mediators and has been the major supplier of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

But Brussels suspended direct aid to the Hamas-led government when it came to power this year and refused to have contacts with the Islamist movement until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel's right to exist and accepts past agreements.