Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit told a European Union forum in Brussels that the EU must pressure Israel into opening Gaza crossings to bring an end to the blockage.

Gheit also called on the EU to undertake playing a major role in rehabilitation Gaza after the war, calling for a fundraising forum to be held in February. He added that after assessing the damage and infusing rehabilitation funds in Gaza, a unity government must be formed to ensure the funds are properly spent.

“I am calling on the EU to expedite towards assisting the Palestinian people to emerge from the crisis situation as quickly as possible…we must compel the Israelis to enter into a dialogue and to open the crossings to permit the Palestinians to live a normal life.”

The Egyptian minister stated a date for a fundraising forum must be set and a unity government must be established between Hamas and Fatah to work towards rehabilitation, “which will take a long time”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)