Countries such as Spain and Ireland preferred that the statement include a call for a ceasefire, but others such as Germany and Austria disagreed with that phrase and opted for the demand for humanitarian pauses, which would eliminate the option that was ultimately imposed.
European Union leaders called for “humanitarian corridors and humanitarian pauses” at the summit in Brussels on Thursday to allow aid to reach the Gaza Strip.
“The European Council expresses its deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered access and humanitarian assistance to reach all those in need of assistance through all necessary measures, including humanitarian corridors and humanitarian breaks “, including the draft conclusions approved by leaders.
Countries such as Spain and Ireland preferred that the statement include a call for a ceasefire, but others, such as Germany and Austria, disagreed with this expression and opted from the start for the demand for humanitarian breaks, which is what this option ultimately became. imposing.
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, has made it clear that “no one is against humanitarian pauses” and that the debate is about “if you call for a ceasefire, it means that Israel cannot defend itself”, something with which De The EU agrees, always within the limits of international law. In this sense, a diplomatic source has assured that “if there was someone who could understand that Europe is asking for a ceasefire, that would be a problem.”
The EU committed to working with its partners in the region to protect civilians and provide the population with food, water, medical aid, fuel and protection, “ensuring that terrorist organizations do not misuse this aid”.
The leaders also called on Hamas to release all hostages it captured in the October 7 attack by its armed wing on Israel, including European citizens, including Basques.
European leaders have stressed that the war must not escalate to other countries in the region, for which they have committed to maintaining contacts with their partners, including the Palestinian National Authority.
The conclusions of the summit guarantee that “the EU is ready to contribute to reviving a political process based on the two-state solution”, one Palestinian and the other Israeli, and that it supports the holding of an international peace conference, a proposal that Spain has made. Spanish diplomatic sources even consider the recording of the peace conference to be very good.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
