The Diplomat
EU foreign ministers yesterday called the death of civilians in the Middle East “unacceptable”, condemned the “indiscriminate attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups on Israeli territory” and “fully” supported Israel’s right to self-defense “in a proportionate manner and respecting international humanitarian law”.
The heads of diplomacy of the 27 Member States, including the Spanish Minister, Arancha González Laya, participated yesterday by videoconference in an informal meeting in which they discussed the “grave upsurge in violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory” and the EU’s response. Separately, under “other business”, the ministers were briefed on developments related to irregular migration in Ceuta.
At the end of the discussions, the foreign ministers called for an immediate cessation of all violence and the implementation of a ceasefire to protect civilians and to allow “full humanitarian access in Gaza”, as explained by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
The European ministers also agreed that the upsurge in violence in recent days has resulted in a high number of deaths and injuries among the civilian population, including a high number of children and women, which is “unacceptable”. “We must also condemn the indiscriminate rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups on Israeli territory” and “fully support Israel’s right to self-defense”, which “has to be done in a proportionate manner and with respect for international humanitarian law”, Borrell continued.
The heads of European diplomacy also urged full respect for “the status quo of the Holy Places and the right to worship”, insisted that “real security for Israel and Palestine requires a true political solution that will bring peace” and called the holding of Palestinian elections a “priority”. Moreover, the EU will renew its commitment to key partners in this conflict, such as the new US administration, and pledges to reactivate the Middle East Peace Quartet. During the meeting it was also announced that the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, Sven Koopmans, will travel to the region to engage with the Quartet, other partners and the parties themselves.
Israeli Ambassador to Spain
On the other hand, the Israeli Ambassador to Spain, Rodica Radian-Gordon, assured yesterday during a telematic meeting with the media that “20 or 30% of the missiles launched from the strip are the ones that cause the deaths of Palestinian children and civilians” and declared that her country “has not wanted this wave of violence”, which “has been initiated by Hamas, when the elections in Palestinian territory were postponed, because they believed that they were going to be the winners of the elections”. “We want to have peace, although with Hamas it is impossible”, she declared. “We wish to have a long period of calm for everyone. We will never negotiate with Hamas. We have nothing against the people of Gaza. They are not our target, Hamas is”, she continued.
Rodica Radian-Gordon also assured that “the situation is very difficult for all Israelis”. “There are 3,400 missiles launched by Hamas, of which 1,300 have been intercepted thanks to our ‘steel dome’. Even so, these launches have caused 10 dead and 200 wounded”, she explained. As for the bombardment and destruction of buildings, including the one housing the international media, the ambassador assured that this and many other buildings housed the offices of the Hamas secret and information service and members of the Palestinian Army.
