Foreign ministers call on Israel to allow in more aid

EUROPEAN foreign ministers have called on Israel to let more humanitarian aid into Gaza but fell well short of supporting Ireland’s call for a full investigation of the war.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana is heading to the region to help with a peace initiative devised by Egypt and will meet the newly appointed US envoy George Mitchell.

The union’s development commissioner Louis Michel, caused consternation in some quarters when he held Hamas responsible for the 1,300 civilian casualties in Gaza. He was one of the first foreign dignitaries to visit Gaza and witness the devastation. He announced a €58 million emergency aid package for the Palestinians in addition to the €3m announced last month for Gaza.