After hours of wrangling, EU heads of state and government have agreed on a joint statement on the Middle East war. In it they call for “corridors and breaks for humanitarian purposes”.
The EU states are calling for ceasefires and protected corridors for safe aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza is a matter of grave concern, according to a summit declaration by the heads of state and government adopted in Brussels on Thursday evening. In the conflict between the Islamist Hamas and Israel, we call for continuous, rapid, safe and unhindered access for aid deliveries. Necessary measures also included “humanitarian corridors and breaks for humanitarian purposes.”
Protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip called for
The European Union will work closely with partners in the region to protect civilians, provide assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter, the statement added. The aim is to ensure that this aid is not misused by terrorist organizations.
There has been a heated dispute in the EU in recent days over demands for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the Gaza Strip. Countries such as Germany and Austria spoke out against the EU publicly joining such calls. They argued that such a move was inappropriate given the Islamist Hamas’ ongoing terror. Countries such as Spain and Ireland, on the other hand, supported such a call because of the many civilian casualties in Israeli attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip.
The use of words such as “humanitarian corridors” and “breaks” in the plural in the statement is a compromise and is intended to make it clear that the EU is not calling on Israel to stop fighting Hamas with immediate effect. Countries like Germany definitely want to avoid this impression.
Regarding the atrocities committed by the Palestinian organization Hamas, the statement said that the European Council strongly condemns Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate attacks throughout Israel. The use of civilians as human shields is a particularly deplorable cruelty. We strongly emphasize Israel’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law and humanitarian law.
The EU states also assured that they would support efforts for an international peace conference.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated since it was first published.
Source: Stern
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