Ashton in Gaza on Sunday

Ashton in Gaza on Sunday

 Catherine Ashton, the high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy, has announced that she will visit Gaza Strip on Sunday to study a possible EU contribution in alleviating the suffering of the Strip’s inhabitants.

Ashton, in an EU statement on Friday, called for an urgent and fundamental change in the closure policy of the Gaza Strip.

“We have welcomed the announcements made by Israel following the flotilla incident and are now awaiting their implementation,” said Ashton, adding that the EU was prepared to help police security inspections of goods and people entering Gaza.

“We stand ready to support the opening of the Gaza crossings for the traffic of goods to and from Gaza,” said Ashton, who is due to make her second visit to Gaza in four months

In Gaza, Ashton is set to visit a summer camp and school run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA). She will also visit local businesses that are partially financed by the EU.