EU diplomats expect difficult discussion next week on Middle East.
EU leaders plan to call for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable cease-fire” in Gaza at the upcoming European Council summit.
The current text of the conclusions, dated March 11, reiterates the European Council’s condemnation of Hamas “for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks,” recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself “in line with international law and international humanitarian law” and calls for the “immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.”
But leaders are also set to express their concern over “the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza” and “the imminent risk of famine,” adding that “full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access” into the coastal enclave is “essential.”
They are also set to urge Israel to “refrain from a ground operation in Rafah,” where more than a million Palestinians have fled amid Israel’s ongoing military assault. The Israeli government’s plan to enter the city, on the southern border of the Gaza Strip, has caused tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his key Western ally, U.S. President Joe Biden.
“Immediate measures should be taken to prevent any further population displacement and provide safe shelter to the population,” the draft reads.
Leaders will also call for “restraint in the West Bank and East Jerusalem,” and “strongly” condemn “extremist settler violence.” European sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank, which would be in line with a similar U.S. measure, are stuck because of Hungarian opposition.
The draft conclusions echo European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s call during a European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday morning.
“The people of Gaza need an immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable cease-fire,” von der Leyen told MEPs. “And they need it now.”
At October’s European Council summit, leaders discussed for hours over the language on the situation in the Middle East, debating whether to agree on a call for a humanitarian pause (singular) or pauses (plural). Since then, leaders have not tried again to forge a compromise on language on the war in Gaza.
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