According to Päivi Peltokoski, the Rafah border crossing point should be opened for the evacuation of people and the export of humanitarian aid to Gaza should be accelerated.
Finns still in Gaza have not been contacted so far.
Gaza’s electricity and telecommunications connections were cut off Friday night when Israel’s ground offensive began. Israel stepped up its attack on Saturday.
Foreign minister According to Elina Valtonen (collector). There are still seven Finnish citizens in Gaza who have not been able to leave the area.
Head of Finland’s Ramallah Liaison Office Päivi Peltokoski tells that he last contacted some of the Finns on Wednesday.
– There has been no contact since then. But I know that connections have been restored in some parts of Gaza this morning. Some have made contact with Gaza since yesterday’s attack.
Palestinian media reported early Sunday morning that phone and internet connections have gradually returned to Gaza.
Peltokoski has been in contact with the Finns in Gaza with short phone calls and text messages.
– I haven’t been able to get in touch with them today, but I know that there have been queues at charging points for mobile phones in the past. Many buildings have been destroyed, so it is not possible to charge mobile phones or get electricity everywhere.
Peltokoski says that the Finns’ situation has not changed substantially in recent weeks. They have been moving around Gaza looking for safe places.
– But there are currently no places safe from bombings at all. Of course, this humanitarian emergency affects absolutely everyone inside Gaza. There is still a severe shortage of water, food, fuel and electricity.
The Rafah border crossing is now Gaza’s only lifeline
In Päivi Peltokoski’s opinion, it would be very important for the UN, Israel and Egypt to reach an agreement on opening the Rafah border crossing to passenger traffic or at least to foreign citizens being evacuated from Gaza. Rafah is on the border between Gaza and Egypt.
He cannot say what is the root cause of the fact that even foreign citizens have not been allowed to leave Gaza, although negotiations are taking place all the time.
– An even more important goal would be to make the import of humanitarian aid to Gaza much faster. The Israeli authorities check the contents of the aid trucks on the Egyptian side and give them permission to cross the border.
Peltokoski says that at most 20 trucks per day have been sent to Gaza, while the need for help would currently be 550 trucks per day.
– The amount of humanitarian aid is completely insufficient.
The Kerem Shalom border crossing point, which Israel has now destroyed, has usually been used for the export of humanitarian aid. Kerem Shalom is located on the border between Gaza and Israel.
Everything now depends on the Rafah border crossing point, says Peltokoski.
Evacuating the hospital is difficult without cars, fuel and guaranteeing safety
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, the Israeli authorities have demanded the immediate evacuation of Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday due to the bombardment.
Peltokoski says that there are tens of thousands of patients in Gaza’s hospitals, including those injured in the bombings. How can people practically get away?
– It is a terribly difficult operation to go to empty the hospitals towards the south and patients who are still in a serious condition. Definitely not an easy operation.
According to Peltokoski, Israel should guarantee a safe humanitarian corridor along which patients and hospital staff could be moved to the south.
In addition to that, you should find a hospital that can still admit patients. It is also difficult to find enough cars and fuel for transportation in Gaza City, Peltokoski points out.