By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The EU on Friday has welcomed the initiation of a humanitarian pause between Israel and Hamas.
“It (humanitarian pause) should be fully implemented as a first step towards ending the ongoing horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza, and extended for a longer period,” said a statement from the office of EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
"The agreement foresees the release of a group of innocent women and children who had been abducted during Hamas’ horrific attack on 7 October. All hostages should be unconditionally freed. Nobody should bargain with civilian lives," the statement said.
“While the agreement allows for limited access of food, water, medicines, and fuel for besieged Gazans, the EU asserts that humanitarian aid must reach civilians in Gaza without any conditions,” it said.
"The EU deplores the great number of civilian casualties, particularly thousands of children and women," the statement added.
It said that the protection of civilians, unimpeded access to basic services, and respect for protected sites such as hospitals and schools are a “legal obligation.”
The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 14,854, the government media office in the blockaded enclave said Thursday.
The victims include 6,150 children and over 4,000 women, while more than 36,000 people have been injured, it said.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.