Blockade of Gaza: it is unblocking according to Cathy Ashton (update)

(BRUSSELS2) This is the feeling expressed on Wednesday by the Union's chief diplomat to the European parliamentarians gathered in Strasbourg. " We need to reopen the borders so that humanitarian aid, goods and civilians can enter and leave Gaza normally. And instead of a restrictive list of products, we must have a short, agreed list of prohibited products where Israel has legitimate security concerns. According to my last discussions, it seems that we are moving towards these two (topics): borders and lists of goods ". And to add that the EU has a mission in Rafah which " could be reactivated. We are ready to support the opening of other land border points ».

Task force and exploratory mission

Three options are thus offered in terms of European defense missions:
1) recalibrate the Eubam Rafah border surveillance mission, dormant since 2006;
2) open a new mission;
3) prepare a “more complex” maritime mission of the PeSDC, admitted C. Ashton. A task force has thus been created, the first meeting of which will be held this Friday and will be chaired in person by the High Representative. An exploratory mission should also leave quickly to examine how to contribute to a solution.

In Israel, the government cabinet that was to make a decision on the subject postponed its decision. While a new Turkish flotilla is preparing and two boats partly chartered by the Iranian Red Crescent have taken (or will take to sea shortly) to reach Gaza by the Red Sea (if they are not... attacked by pirates or blocked by multinational forces deployed in the Gulf of Aden).

(Update Thursday, June 17) The Israeli government cabinet has decided to lighten the list of products but limited: food, toys, kitchen utensils, stationery will be allowed. But not building materials. The government considers that there is
there is a risk of dual use as a weapon. Which is largely below what the Europeans and the international community were asking for.