BRUSSELS, Nov 22, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said she has ordered her European Commission to step up aid deliveries to Gaza following the announcement of a four-day pause in the conflict under a hostage-release deal.

"The European Commission will do its utmost to use this pause for a humanitarian surge to Gaza," she said in a statement, adding that "I wholeheartedly welcome the agreement".