European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has added his voice to the growing international calls for a humanitarian pause in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The purpose of this pause is to allow much-needed aid supplies to reach the people of Gaza, who have been caught in the crossfire of the conflict.
Borrell made these remarks as he arrived for a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. He emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian support to be delivered to Gaza, expressing concern for the well-being of Palestinian civilians who have been severely impacted by the violence.
The European Union foreign policy chief’s statement follows a similar call from the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres. The international community is increasingly uniting behind the idea that a pause in the conflict is necessary to ensure that essential humanitarian aid can reach those in need in Gaza.
During the meeting of EU foreign ministers, Borrell addressed the issue, saying, “I cannot anticipate the result of the meeting, but it is certainly something which the ministers will have to discuss. The Secretary-General of the United Nations asked for it very much. Personally, I think a humanitarian pause is needed in order to allow humanitarian support to come in and be distributed.”
Borrell further elaborated on the matter, highlighting the importance of not only humanitarian aid but also addressing the security concerns in the region. He emphasized, “The attacks of missiles, rockets from Hamas, from Gaza, have to stop. The hostages, the people who have been kidnapped, have to be released. Obviously, it is part of any step towards de-escalation, and we have to start thinking of how to revive the political process. But the priority at the moment is to make humanitarian support go into Gaza.”
As the international community intensifies its efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the EU foreign ministers’ meeting is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The push for a humanitarian pause aims to alleviate the suffering of civilians and create conditions for a more substantial and lasting resolution to the ongoing crisis.