Middle East Features

In Pictures: 'EU Foreign Affairs Rep Baroness Ashton Visits Gaza'

By James Wray Mar 18, 2010, 15:50 GMT

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (C) adresses the media during a visit the UN distribution center in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip.On 18 March, the same day Ashton arrived in the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket at Israel , killing a Thai worker - the first fatality from a rocket fired from the salient since the end of Israel's offensive in the Strip 14 months ago, officials said. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vehicles accompanying Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton are seen crossing from the Erez check point during her visit to Gaza, in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip.On 18 March, the same day Ashton arrived in the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket at Israel , killing a Thai worker - the first fatality from a rocket fired from the salient since the end of Israel's offensive in the Strip 14 months ago, officials said. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (C) arrives to visit the UN distribution center in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip.On 18 March, the same day Ashton arrived in the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket at Israel , killing a Thai worker - the first fatality from a rocket fired from the salient since the end of Israel's offensive in the Strip 14 months ago, officials said. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (C) during her visit at the UN distribution center in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip.On 18 March, the same day Ashton arrived in the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket at Israel , killing a Thai worker - the first fatality from a rocket fired from the salient since the end of Israel's offensive in the Strip 14 months ago, officials said. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (C) is welcomed by European Union members at the Erez check point between Gaza Strip and Israel during her visit in Gaza, in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (3L) in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (C) visits the UN distribution center at the Jabaliya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010. The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip.On 18 March, the same day Ashton arrived in the Gaza strip, Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket at Israel , killing a Thai worker - the first fatality from a rocket fired from the salient since the end of Israel's offensive in the Strip 14 months ago, officials said. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Vice President of the European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton (2R) is welcomed by European Union members in Erez check point between Gaza Strip and Israel during her visit in Gaza, in the northern Gaza Strip, 18 March 2010.The European Union's foreign affairs supremo, Catherine Ashton, arrived in the Gaza Strip on 18 March to check how EU aid is spent and to see for herself the conditions under which Palestinians there live. Ashton, making a rare foray into Gaza by a top EU diplomat, wa's conflict. She was also slated to meet with United Nations officials and Palestinian notables, but would not be holding talks with officials from the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers the strip. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER I