EU calls for 'meaningful' humanitarian pauses in Gaza amid Israeli onslaught, fuel shortages

The EU's humanitarian aid chief called on Monday for "meaningful" pauses in Israel's brutal onslaught in Gaza as well as urgent deliveries of fuel to keep hospitals working in the territory.

"It is urgent to define and respect humanitarian pauses," Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, said at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers in Brussels.

"Fuel needs to get in. As you could see, more than half of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip stopped working, primarily because of lack of fuel, and fuel is desperately needed."

The appeal went out as Israeli strikes raged around Gaza's largest hospital, which has become a flashpoint since Israel's military assault began on 7 October.

Children staged a press conference outside Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital yesterday, pleading for the world to take action as Israel persists in the incessant bombardment of the besieged territory. Almost half of the 10,500+ killed since 7 October have been kids 👇 pic.twitter.com/bwha3wbroV

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) November 8, 2023

On Sunday, the EU also called for "continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid" to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs. 

The bloc however, like many Western countries, stressed Israel's "right to defend itself" in line with international law and international humanitarian law

The health ministry in war-hit territory said on Monday the hospitals in the centre of the heaviest fighting in north Gaza have been forced out of service amid fuel and power shortages, as well as the fierce bombardment.

The EU's 27 countries issued a statement on Sunday saying hospitals "must be protected" while demanding "immediate humanitarian pauses" to allow desperately needed aid into the besieged territory. There have been reports of Gaza's healthcare system collapsing due to shortages of fuel and medical supplies.

"These pauses have to be meaningful," Lenarcic said.

"First of all, they have to be announced well in advance of the implementation so organisations can prepare to exploit them. Second, they have to be clearly defined time-wise."

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell insisted that "Gaza needs more aid from any point of view".

"Water, fuel, food. This aid is available, is in the border waiting to come in," he said.

Israeli troops have waged a deadly onslaught in Gaza on October 7, killing at least 11,180 Palestinians including 4,609 children. Hospitals, houses, marketplaces and refugee camps have been it, partially and fully destroying key infrastructure.

Israel has also placed Gaza under a complete siege, cutting off water, fuel and food supplies in the densely-populated enclave.

Israeli is facing intense international pressure to minimise civilian suffering amid its massive air and ground operation, ongoing for at least five weeks.

Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said that hospitals in Gaza should not be turned into "battlefields".

"Patients who are in intensive care units have no chance," he said.

"There is no more oxygen, there is no more water, there are no more medicines. So these people are going to die."