An European Union (EU) official said Friday he was "profoundly concerned" with the effect Israel's decision to close all Gaza border crossings may have on the area's population.
"I am profoundly concerned about the consequences for the Gazan population of the complete closure of all Gaza crossings for deliveries of fuel and basic humanitarian assistance," Bentita Ferrero-Waldner, commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, said in a statement.
Ferrero-Waldner called on Israel to re-open the crossings for humanitarian and commercial traffic, in particular food and medicines.
"Facilitation of fuel deliveries for the Gaza Power Plant should be resumed immediately," the commissioner said.
International law, he said, requires the provision of access to essential services, such as electricity and clean water, to the civilian population.
"Recent infringements of the calm agreed in June must not lead to a renewed cycle of violence. I call on all parties to exercise restraint," Ferrero-Waldner said.
The Israeli army decided Thursday to keep all Gaza Strip border crossings closed after receiving intelligence indicating Palestinian militants were planning to attack a border terminal.
The decision was made after Gazan militants fired mortar shells and rockets at southern Israel earlier Thursday, one day after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed four Hamas gunmen whom they said were trying to plant a bomb along the border.
Source:Xinhua
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