EU says total siege of Gaza 'must stop'

LONDON

European leaders have emphasized that the total siege of the Gaza Strip must stop as the humanitarian situation worsens amidst Israeli bombardment.

During a joint press conference following the first day of the European Council Summit, European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen late Thursday highlighted the importance of reaching humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Reiterating the EU's support for Israel's "right to defend itself," the leaders also discussed political solution for the conflict.

Delivery of humanitarian aid is "extremely urgent," said Michel, adding that there is a "serious deterioration of the humanitarian situation" in Gaza. He stressed that the EU should do everything possible in order to help resolve the question of humanitarian access.

"A total siege is not in line with the international law and I confirm this," added the European Council president.

Mentioning that European leaders also discussed the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict, Michel highlighted that it is important to launch a huge political process based on a two-state solution.

"There has been much discussion about this important commitment to the two-state solution," said Michel, referring to the discussion among leaders during the first day of the summit.

He noted that the EU supports the idea of holding a peace conference very soon, which he said would be "a good way" to guarantee sustainable peace and sustainable stability in the region.

"There was a very, very large consensus among the member states and the leaders to work actively to make possible such an international peace conference," he noted.

However, Michel said that he does not see any role for Hamas in such an international conference, in which the EU will participate.

- 'Aid needs to reach Gaza unhindered, quickly'

For her part, von der Leyen said that they had "a long, good and intense discussion" about the situation in the Middle East, adding there was "a strong call" from the European leaders that Hamas must immediately release all hostages without any preconditions.

"For the Commission, it is very important that we continue to intensify our efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The aid needs to reach Gaza unhindered and quickly," she noted.

Recalling humanitarian aid to Gaza, she said the bloc will sign contracts worth €40 million ($42.2 million) with UN agencies.

Pointing out the "risk of regionalization of the conflict," von der Leyen said there is a need to continue working intensively with partners.

"If we want to speak to Israel and influence Israel, and therefore it is so important that you first listen if you want to be listened to," she said, adding that European leaders who visited Israel spoke "very clearly" on the need to exerting the right of self-defense to do this in line with international law.

"Of course leaders emphasized that the siege must stop. it is of utmost importance that the Palestinian people and the hostages and all those who are in Gaza have access to humanitarian," underlined von der Leyen.

There is no contradiction between showing solidarity to Israel, and acting on the need of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, she said. "We have to do everything possible to prevent a spillover in the wider region and there Europe has a role to play."

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 8,500 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into the enclave have carried only a fraction of what is needed.