EU ship leaving for Gaza as test of new humanitarian corridor

Aid for distribution to Palestinians (Picture: Hassan Eslaiah/AP)

A ship will head to Gaza carrying humanitarian aid, the European Commission president said, as international donors launch a sea corridor to supply the territory, which faces widespread hunger and shortages of other essential supplies after nearly five months of war.

A ship belonging to Spain’s Open Arms will make a pilot voyage to test the sea corridor, Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Cyprus, where she is inspecting preparations for the sea corridor.