Jordan and the European Union (EU) have agreed on a joint mechanism to deliver aids to the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israel's intensive assault for eleven days, the Royal Hashemite Court said on Tuesday.
The two sides came up with the agreement during a meeting between Jordan's King Abdullah II and a visiting EU delegation, which includes Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, EU Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.
The monarch underlined the need for an immediate move by the international community to stop the Israeli aggression and protect Palestinians from a humanitarian catastrophe, said the royal court in a statement.
The king also urged the EU to be more involved in the efforts, warning against the consequences resulted from the Jewish aggression, added the statement.
The delegation was on a tour in the Middle East, which has so far taken them to Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian National Authority.
Benita Ferrero-Waldner said at a later press conference that the Mideast tour aims to achieve two goals -- a humanitarian ceasefire and a method to alleviate the sufferings of civilians in Gaza.
However, she said it is still difficult to broker a humanitarian ceasefire, though "we have talked to all different parties to see what could be done in order to come to that."
"We will not let the people (in Gaza) die. On the contrary, we have immediately and very strongly pushed the Israelis to open up the crossings," said the EU official.
"But it is not only a matter of crossings, it is also a matter of distribution, of transport of basic things -- food, water, fuel and medication to the population," she added.
Schwarzenberg, whose country currently holds the EU rotating presidency, echoed her comments, saying "I do see some positive signals in the horizon but I am afraid we still need several days to really see a light, to really see when this war ends."
However, Ferrero-Waldner said an EU official will be present at the Israeli Defense Ministry as of Tuesday to coordinate the dispatch of humanitarian aids to Gaza.
Israel launched airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Dec. 27 and a ground operation on Jan. 3. More than 600 Palestinians have been killed and 2,700 others injured in the ongoing conflict.
Source:Xinhua
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