in voting United Nations Assembly Last December 13, just two days ago, Israel issued a decision demanding a ceasefire in the region. Gaza Strip It demonstrated the deep division that continues to exist among the twenty-seven states due to the Middle East conflict. So 17 out of 27 EU countries supported the petition, 8 abstained and 2 voted against it. Division emerges once again Council of Europe In the results of the summit held in Brussels on Thursday and Friday ceasefire request Recommended by leaders Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Malta.
After some capitals refused to go beyond convention, the document approved by the Twenty-Seven limited themselves to the statement that “the European Council has conducted an in-depth strategic discussion on the Middle East.” They were at the last summit and managed to agree to the request for “humanitarian pauses”. “Others have ideas that go further but on which there is no full agreement,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said.
According to diplomatic sources, conflict between some delegations led Michel to close the debate without any joint declaration. This Thursday, Dutch liberal Mark Rutte was asked whether he was in favor of calling for a ceasefire. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, the eighth country to abstain this week, answered “No”. Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. The other two are Austria and the Czech RepublicThey voted against it.
This disagreement has led European leaders to refrain from seeking a new common language despite maximum pressure from countries including Spain, Belgium, Ireland and Malta, which sent a letter to European Council President Charles Michel last weekend. He called for a serious discussion and a humanitarian ceasefire.
Humane aid
“It is true that there are different positions among European Council members on humanitarian pauses, advocated by some, and humanitarian ceasefires, advocated by others, but this should not obscure what is essential,” the Belgian liberal recalled. none Pedro Sánchez, Despite his letter a week earlier, he wanted to go further – the head of government said he “knew what Spain’s position is” – but what he wanted was a “strategic reflection” on the southern neighbourhood. “What is happening in the Middle East should force us to look at the southern neighborhoods,” he said. In any case, what is important for Michel is that EU leaders agree to support humanitarian aid to Gaza and intensify initiatives through sea corridors or other means. For example, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that they have been organizing since last October 7, when the Hamas attack took place. It carried out 28 flights and sent 1,200 tons of humanitarian aidand there will be five more before the end of the year.
You can go after terrorists without engaging in the kind of war and destruction that Israel is currently waging in Gaza. We know that European countries also have to deal with terrorism and that they have not done what Israel has done in Gaza, nor are they even considering doing so, so I am not convinced that we can reach an agreement on the use of the word stop fire.” The Irish Prime Minister admitted when he arrived at the meeting: Leo VaradkarThis reflects positively that Europe’s position has improved since October.
“Compared with the last Council, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. Our goal must be to end the suffering of humanity on both sides. And there was a lot of human suffering. The components of this are the need to ensure full humanitarian access, the release of hostages and the cessation of hostilities,” the Belgian Prime Minister warned this Friday. Alexander De Croo.