European Parliament President Roberta Metsola’s Gaza entrance last February was a brief one that was meant to convey a symbolic meaning.

Metsola entered Gaza from the Keram Shalom border crossing along with humanitarian vehicles. This was shortly after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement that saw several hostages released.

She didn’t spend long in Gaza and didn’t meet the Palestinians in the war-zone they have been living in.

However, on the same trip, she visited Ramallah in the West Bank and met up with Palestinian activists who work in Gazan camps, as well as with executives from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.

On that same trip, she met up with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and President Isaac Herzog, but not with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Although her visit was a brief one, it was meant to convey a symbolic message to Israel and Hamas that the European Parliament supported the ceasefire deal and humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

However, the ceasefire didn’t hold and Israel ended up imposing a three-month blockade, which has resulted in a serious hunger crisis.