– European Union Foreign Affairs Coordinator Josep Borrell said during the ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg on Monday that the most important thing now is to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
For the first time since February last year, the Ukrainian war has moved down the agenda and is now in second place, after the conflict in the Middle East.
But the European Union will likely not put pressure on Egypt to open its borders to Palestinian refugees. Egypt, for its part, has made it clear that it is not interested in bearing responsibility.
ABC explains: That is why there is a war between Israel and Hamas
Doubts about the truce
Borrell stated that the foreign ministers will also discuss a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons.
– Personally, I believe that a humanitarian truce is necessary to ensure the arrival of aid, he said.
In any case, Hamas must release the hostages and stop firing rockets at Israel, the Foreign Minister stresses.
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– Borrell says it is part of any step towards stopping the escalation of the conflict.
But many foreign ministers doubt the possibility of reaching a ceasefire with Hamas.
– We cannot ask Israel to stop defending itself when Hamas fires rockets at Israeli cities, says Italian Antonio Tajani.
Division
All European Union countries have condemned Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and the killing of several hundred Israeli civilians. But it is known that countries are divided in their view of the conflict in the Middle East and the strength of Israel’s ability to respond.
This became particularly clear in the days following the terrorist attack, when worrying signals were issued from the European Union.
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Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom would not answer yes or no to whether Israel’s response was in line with international law.
– He says that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the response was proportionate.
More than 4,650 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, including more than 1,870 children.
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– important role
Foreign Minister Borrell and Billstrom stressed the importance of putting the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians back on track.
We must return to the negotiating table and return the solution in the form of the two-state solution to the table again. Billstrom says the European Union has a very important role to play there.
EU foreign ministers also have to deal with many matters, specifically the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the simmering dispute between Serbia and Kosovo. On top of all that comes North Africa and the latest coups there.
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