Arabic version: الاتحاد الأوروبي يحث إسرائيل على إعادة فتح معابر غزة

According to Al Jazeera, the European Union has urged Israel to reopen all Gaza border crossings and allow “immediate, unimpeded access” for aid groups following devastating flooding in the territory this week. The appeal was made in a Saturday statement released by the office of Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and vice-president of the European Commission.

The 27-nation bloc said civilian infrastructure and medical facilities in Gaza must be protected. It said international law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected at all times, covering civilians, civilian infrastructure, medical personnel and medical facilities. The EU described a recent air strike on Nasser Hospital as “deeply alarming”.

An Israeli air attack on Thursday at the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza killed at least six Palestinians, including a surgeon, and wounded dozens. On Saturday, an Israeli drone attack killed two Palestinians as they walked in Jabaliya, on the northern edge of Gaza City, according to Mohamed Abu Selmiya, director of Shifa Hospital. An American field hospital said several others were wounded. The Israeli military said it struck two Hamas “militants”.

Heavy rain has worsened flooding in Gaza, where damage from Israeli attacks on infrastructure has submerged large areas, according to local officials and the UN. Gaza’s media office said more than 700km of the territory’s sewage network has been destroyed. UNICEF said heavy rain has directly affected at least 106,000 people in recent days, with thousands of tents for displaced Palestinians submerged and latrines overflowing into camps.

The EU said Israel must enable the work of the UN, its agencies and humanitarian organisations, including NGOs. It also reaffirmed its commitment to a two-state solution, called for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and urged sustained humanitarian assistance and early recovery support at scale.