World Central Kitchen suspended its operations in Gaza after seven of its aid workers were killed in an IDF strike. President Nikos Christodoulides stated that the maritime aid corridor will remain open despite the suspension.
The fact described in the text is that the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, is in Cyprus for a two-day working visit.
The Cypriot ‘Amalthia’ initiative aims to establish a maritime humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza, with a meeting attended by officials from 36 countries and international organizations discussing this effort. The initiative has received approximately EUR 80 million in pledges and has already dispatched one shipment from Larnaca port. U.S. army engineers plan to build a jetty in Gaza for receiving aid cargoes. Curtis Ried, Chief of Staff for the U.S. National Security Council, commended Cyprus for leveraging its strategic position for humanitarian purposes. The meeting focused on addressing the food crisis in Gaza amid ongoing conflict. The United States and other participants committed to addressing material and financial gaps, with plans for continued dialogue and collaboration. A secretariat is to be established in Cyprus to coordinate donor efforts effectively. The European Union is expected to contribute EUR 70 million, with the Netherlands pledging EUR 10 million. World Central Kitchen has shipped and distributed around 200 tonnes of food and aid to northern Gaza, with plans for more shipments. Preparations for a second vessel, the ‘Jennifer’, carrying about 500 tonnes of aid, are underway. U.S. troops are set to build a temporary port off the coast of Gaza to facilitate the delivery of supplies, with the mission expected to arrive around April 15. The temporary pier, part of a U.S. commitment to aid Gaza, will enable the transfer of humanitarian aid from larger to smaller ships for onshore distribution and is expected to be operational within sixty days, capable of offloading up to two million meals or bottles of water daily. Israel will assist in anchoring the pier, and security plans for the temporary port have been established.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the only effective and efficient method to deliver heavy goods to meet Gaza’s humanitarian needs is by road, which requires a significant increase in commercial deliveries. Guterres highlighted the global impact of the war in Gaza and criticized the international community for failing to uphold Palestinian human dignity. During his visit to Egypt and Jordan, part of an annual Ramadan solidarity tour, he expressed outrage at the backlog of aid for Gaza at Egypt’s border. Despite over five months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, with aid accumulating in Egypt’s Sinai, efforts to deliver aid through air drops and ships have been proposed, but U.N. officials insist on scaling up deliveries by land. Guterres emphasized the need for Israel to facilitate relief by removing obstacles and increasing crossing points. He also mentioned the U.N.’s efforts to maintain funding for UNRWA, the main humanitarian aid agency in Gaza, despite funding pauses from countries like the United States and Britain due to accusations against UNRWA staff. UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini expressed regret over the continued U.S. funding ban until at least March 2025.
After six months of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, countering the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks, EU leaders called for a cease-fire. The Palestinians in Gaza have been suffering from starvation, lack of medical supplies, and the harsh rule of Hamas militants, with hospitals and schools being constantly targeted. The Cypriot ‘Amalthia’ initiative has opened a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, with the first supply of food relief reaching the Palestinians and a second shipment ready. Air drops continue from Jordan, and efforts are ongoing to open more land border crossings from Egypt. Cyprus has a history of humanitarian relief efforts and has evacuated foreign nationals from Lebanon, Sudan, and helped end the siege of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem in 2002. Cyprus has developed diplomatic channels and trust with neighboring countries, primarily focused on energy issues. The U.S. views Israel as a key ally in the region, while western powers tolerate Turkey’s actions, including its involvement in Syria and the Russia-Ukraine war. Cyprus has not invested in major defense purchases and lacks air and naval support to safeguard its Exclusive Economic Zone. Cyprus aims to remain proactive in regional matters, seeking full support from EU partners and western powers, aiming to lead in diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives without nepotism influencing appointments.
A total of 33 countries, four organizations, and two NGOs have confirmed their participation in an international summit on March 21st to address the food crisis in Gaza. The countries include the United States, United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Brazil, Denmark, Czech Republic, Israel, Australia, Germany, Bulgaria, Singapore, Netherlands, Slovenia, Japan, Canada, Malta, Qatar, Hungary, Belgium, Latvia, Luxembourg, Austria, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and Cyprus as the host. The organizations are the European Union, the United Nations, USAID, and WHO. The NGOs are WCK and FOGBOW. Approximately 100 attendees are expected to be physically present at the summit.
Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid for Gaza might constitute a war crime due to potential starvation tactics, as stated by the U.N. human rights chief, Volker Turk. A U.N.-backed report warned of a possible famine in Gaza by May if the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues. Israel, however, claims it is facilitating aid delivery and blames the U.N. and relief groups for any issues related to aid distribution. The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva asserted that Israel is actively working to provide Gaza with aid through various means. The U.N. High Commissioner emphasized Israel’s obligations as the occupying power to ensure food and medical care for Gaza’s population and support humanitarian organizations in their aid delivery efforts. The report highlighted severe malnutrition and food insecurity in northern Gaza, with people resorting to eating bird seeds, animal fodder, wild grass, and weeds due to the lack of food. Turk described the crisis as “human-made” and called for international pressure on Israel to allow full aid delivery and restore essential services in Gaza.
The “Amalthea” humanitarian aid operation for Gaza, announced by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, will be continued and intensified to deliver more aid to the civilian population. Cyprus has developed an additional tool to supplement existing aid channels, requiring collaboration with regional and international partners for maritime resources, safe transport, and distribution of aid to Gaza. The first aid ship from Larnaca marks the activation of the Amalthea Plan, establishing a systematic maritime corridor for humanitarian aid. The initiative has been welcomed by the President of the European Commission and involves joint efforts with countries like the United Arab Emirates, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, utilizing its geographical proximity and relations, champions this maritime corridor based on international humanitarian law. Greece is among the countries supporting this initiative, having signed the Joint Declaration issued on 8 March. The initiative has been presented in international forums and to the European Council, aiming to enhance Cyprus’s role in the region and provide life-saving aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. Letymbiotis also denied claims about Israel’s interest in purchasing a port in Cyprus, calling the report unfounded and false.
The maritime corridor for humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza is likely to be launched on Sunday, as stated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Larnaca after inspecting the port installations with President Nikos Christodoulides. The Amalthea Initiative, aimed at delivering aid to Gaza following five months of war, was led by Cyprus and supported by the EU, the United Arab Emirates, the U.S., and the U.K. The first vessel, belonging to the Spanish NGO Open Arms, is anchored in Larnaca, ready to deliver food and supplies provided by the World Central Kitchens charity. The U.S. military plans to set up a temporary port off Gaza’s coast to support the initiative, as announced by President Joe Biden. The Cyprus maritime corridor intends to scale up aid by complementing other routes, including the Rafah crossing from Egypt and airdrops from Jordan. The UN Special Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, plays a crucial role in coordinating humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The European Commission President emphasized the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the need for aid, mentioning Europe’s financing of a major humanitarian effort for Palestinians in Gaza and the region, amounting to €250 million this year. The EU has launched 41 flights carrying over 1,800 tonnes of aid and is considering all options, including airdrops. The EU naval force operation Aspides was launched to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea amid deteriorating maritime security. Von der Leyen highlighted the importance of preparing for a viable two-state solution, calling for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, opposing forced displacement of Palestinians and the blockade of Gaza, and condemning Gaza as a safe haven for terrorists.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has the support of the European People’s Party for a second term, will inspect Larnaca port facilities prepared for the Gaza aid maritime corridor. She will be hosted by President Nikos Christodoulides in Cyprus, where they will visit the port to inspect facilities for the humanitarian corridor to Gaza, including the dock, storages, and an X-ray mobile scanning machine. They will also visit the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Larnaca. Von der Leyen discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Christodoulides, emphasizing the need for swift action and humanitarian aid access. The EU Commission supports Cyprus’ maritime corridor initiative, recognizing its value in delivering aid to Gaza. Cyprus has designed this corridor to deliver high volumes of aid to Gaza, with increased interest from regional states, EU member states, and institutions. The initiative aims solely at providing humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population, amidst a significant humanitarian crisis.