Earlier this afternoon President Metsola travelled to the Kerem Shalom Border Crossing Point to visit the humanitarian operations, her office said. From there, President Metsola crossed into Gaza where she was able to witness humanitarian aid entering from the Israeli side.

President Metsola is the first European leader to enter Gaza in more than a decade. Her crossing of the border at a crucial moment in time is meant to highlight the EU's critical role in supporting humanitarian efforts in Gaza (notably through the EUBAM operation) and the EU's commitment to continue supporting the ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.

Following her return into Israel, President Metsola was briefed by the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing (EUBAM RAFAH) on their mission and ongoing efforts to support humanitarian aid in Gaza.

In the last months, the EU has provided close to half a billion Euro in humanitarian aid. In addition, EUR 375 million in humanitarian aid will be allocated to the wider Middle East.

Tomorrow, President Metsola will travel to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian leadership in Ramallah. She will meet with Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and with the 2024 Sakharov Prize Nominee, Reem Al Hajajra, Director of Women of the Sun.

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Earlier

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has accepted an invitation to visit Israel and the Palestinian territory today and tomorrow, her office said Thursday.

While in the region at a critical moment in time, the President will underline Europe's willingness to engage constructively with a view to securing the current ceasefire and hostage deal holds and that it provides a path to a sustainable peace in the region that ensures security for Israel and a real perspective to the Palestinian people.

Through her presence on the ground, she will send a clear message that Europe is ready to engage constructively with all partners in the region. She will reiterate the EU's commitment to continue providing much needed humanitarian aid while calling on the international community to step up and increase its humanitarian aid to Gaza, the statement said.

The visit comes after heighted engagement by the European Parliament President in supporting the ceasefire-hostage deal in Gaza and pushing for an increase in humanitarian efforts. In recent weeks, President Roberta Metsola focused on promoting stability and peace in the Middle East. She has had several meetings and telephone conversations with leaders from Israel, Palestine, the Arab countries and US representatives. She has held talks in Cairo with the Egyptian President El-Sisi, met with King Abdullah II of Jordan, received the Palestinian Prime Minister in Brussels and spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister as well as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

In a resolution adopted on 18 January 2024, the European Parliament became the first European institution to formally call for the immediate release of all hostages, the dismantling of the terrorist organisation Hamas, the resumption of the two-state solution and the relaunch of the peace process.

Programme

Today, she will hold talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister (Gideon Sa'ar) and the Speaker of the Knesset in Jerusalem (Amir Ohan).

President Metsola will travel to the Kerem Shalom Border Crossing Point to visit the humanitarian operations. She will also visit the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing (EUBAM Rafah). In the afternoon, she will visit the Site of the Nova Festival in Re'im

On Friday, the President will also meet with Palestinian leadership in Ramallah. She will meet with Mr. Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and with the 2024 Sakharov Prize Nominee, Ms. Reem Al Hajajra, Director of Women of the Sun.

During her visit, she will also meet with released hostages, their families and victims of the conflict.