European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, emphasized the severity of the situation in Gaza ahead of the European Council meeting in Brussels. He stated that the crisis in Gaza is not merely a humanitarian issue but a failure of humanity itself. Borrell urged the council to send a strong message to Israel to cease blocking food supplies and ensure the well-being of civilians in Gaza.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also weighed in on the matter, stressing the importance of upholding humanitarian law in Gaza. He emphasized the need for consistency in applying these principles, mentioning the situation in Ukraine as well.
Guterres highlighted the current state of global affairs, describing it as chaotic and marked by a lack of accountability. He called for a ceasefire in Gaza and condemned both terror attacks and violations of international humanitarian law by Hamas. Guterres expressed deep concern over the unprecedented number of civilian casualties in Gaza.
Borrell indicated that the council is set to approve conclusions that will be more comprehensive than those reached in October. During the previous meeting, ministers had called for humanitarian pauses in Gaza, but the new conclusions are expected to address the crisis in a more substantial manner.
