EU leaders call for immediate humanitarian pause in Gaza

(Patria) - European Union leaders yesterday called for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in Gaza and urged Israel not to launch a major ground offensive on the city of Rafah.

"The European Council calls for an urgent humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire," the leaders said after a meeting in Brussels, calling for the "unconditional release of all hostages," reports RSE.

The Council "calls on the Israeli government not to undertake a ground operation in Rafah," the EU leaders added at the summit in Brussels.

European leaders once again condemned Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.

Following the Hamas attack, EU leaders in October called only for "humanitarian corridors and pauses" in Gaza to allow aid to reach Palestinian civilians.

Ireland, Spain, and Belgium advocated for a ceasefire at the current summit in Brussels.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed to the calls after previously opposing a ceasefire in October, citing Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas attacks.

The leaders' call was previously announced on Thursday by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

- Today, the Council is going much further than in previous months, calling for a sustainable ceasefire, certainly calling for the release of hostages, but showing strong concern for the situation of the people in Gaza, which is unacceptable - Borrell said before the start of the two-day summit.

He urged Israel to ensure that more aid reaches Gaza and said he hoped EU leaders would do the same.

- People in Gaza are starving. Therefore, I hope the Council will send a strong message to Israel, stop blocking, stop preventing food from reaching Gaza, and take care of civilians - said Borrell, adding that Israel has the right to defend itself, but not to take revenge.