EU Missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah Express Serious Concern at Exit Restrictions – EU statement

Jerusalem, 06/04/2017 – 13:13 – UNIQUE ID: 170406_11

The European Union Representative and the EU Heads of Mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah issue the following statement:

The EU missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah express serious concern at exit restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities for travels out of the Gaza Strip. In the January 2016 Council Conclusions the EU called all parties, state and non-state actors to guarantee unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, as foreseen by international humanitarian law, for national, local and international humanitarian organizations, including EU bodies and Member States.

On 26 March 2017 the de facto authorities in Gaza imposed severe restrictions on exits from the Gaza Strip through its crossing-points. Since this decision came into force, exits from Gaza have significantly decreased.

The limitations of freedom of movement from Gaza should immediately be lifted as a matter of primary urgency for all providers of humanitarian aid as well as for people from Gaza who are in need of medical or other humanitarian support. Such restrictions affect the provision of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in Gaza.

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