EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Janez Lenarcic expressed their deep concern over the evacuation decision of occupying Israel, which affects 250 thousand people.
The statement stressed that the evacuation decision threatened rare hospitals, including the European Hospital in southern Gaza. It was stated that during the evacuation process, patients, including pregnant women and the elderly, were evacuated, while staff tried to save medical equipment.
EU officials stressed that this evacuation decision would further exacerbate an already critical situation and recalled Israel’s obligation to ensure that displaced persons can return to their homes or their permanent residences.
“Mandatory evacuations create a humanitarian crisis within a crisis”
The statement included, “Forced evacuations are creating a humanitarian crisis within a crisis,” and underlined the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and a ceasefire that would enable the release of all prisoners.
Forced Evacuations from Khan Younis
The occupying Israeli army had called on Palestinians living in the eastern areas of Khan Younis to evacuate the area on the grounds that it was a “dangerous conflict zone.”
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on July 1 that Palestinians living east of Khan Younis were asked to evacuate the area immediately for their own safety. Following this call, Palestinians were forced to move to the al-Mawasi area west of Rafah.
Following Israel’s evacuation warning, Gaza-Europe Hospital staff had begun evacuating patients, wounded and equipment. The hospital is one of the few health centers in Gaza, and the evacuated patients and injured were transferred to Nasser Hospital.
