On 18 and 19 November, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in Egypt and Jordan to see the humanitarian aid operations first-hand, hand over EU humanitarian supplies for civilians in Gaza and discuss the crisis with regional leaders.
During the visit, the President highlighted that more aid needed to reach the Palestinian people in Gaza. She also condemned, once again, the unacceptable violence by extremists in the West Bank and called for a break in the cycle of violence. Looking at how Israelis and Palestinians ‘can regain hope and perspective’, President von der Leyen stressed the need for “a political horizon, the two-state solution”.
In Cairo, the President met with the President of Egypt and in Amman, she spoke to His Majesty the King of Jordan. Egypt and Jordan play a crucial role in providing and facilitating humanitarian aid to vulnerable Palestinians. The EU will provide additional logistical support and medical equipment to Egypt to treat wounded civilians from Gaza. Both Jordan and Egypt also play a key stabilising role in these challenging times, to prevent violence from spreading.
At Al-Arish airport in Egypt, the President handed over EU humanitarian supplies which were delivered by the 15th flight of the EU’s humanitarian air bridge. She thanked the Egyptian authorities, the Egyptian Red Crescent Society and United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for the cooperation which makes these deliveries possible.
Over the last month, the Commission has quadrupled its humanitarian aid to over €100 million, in addition to €260 million provided by EU Member States. Team Europe is the largest aid donor to the Palestinian people. Team Europe is composed of the EU, its Member States, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
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- Publication date
- 20 November 2023
- Author
- Directorate-General for Communication