RAMALLAH, July 10, 2025 (WAFA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Varsen Aghabekian, called on European Union countries Thursday to take practical and urgent steps to address the worsening humanitarian and political crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Speaking during a meeting with the heads of EU missions to the State of Palestine, held at the European Police Mission headquarters in Ramallah, Aghabekian provided a detailed briefing on the latest political and field developments.
She described the dire humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in the region, accompanied by severe shortages of basic supplies due to Israel's blockade and restriction of humanitarian aid. She also stressed the sharp rise in Israeli settler and military violence in the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem.
The foreign minister pointed to the deepening financial crisis facing the Palestinian government, exacerbated by Israel’s illegal withholding of Palestinian tax revenues. This, she explained, has severely impaired the government’s ability to meet its financial obligations and deliver essential services.
Aghabekian urged the EU to adopt more serious measures to stop the ongoing war, facilitate sustained humanitarian aid into Gaza, and intervene to curb settler violence and colonial settlement expansion. She also stressed the need for diplomatic pressure on Israel to release the withheld Palestinian tax funds.
Looking ahead, Shahin expressed her hope to engage directly with EU foreign ministers on the sidelines of the upcoming EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting to discuss a range of issues, including the potential reassessment of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
EU Representative to Palestine Alexandre Stutzmann reaffirmed the EU’s ongoing support for Palestinian institutions and people, emphasizing the union’s commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.
He reiterated the EU’s efforts to help establish a durable ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the resumption of aid, restore basic services, and support reconstruction efforts.
M.N
