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The foreign ministers of EU countries called for a ceasefire to end the violence in Palestine, but failed to reach an agreement, which may allow the EU to play a role in peacemaking.
Hungary, Israel’s closest ally, has refused to join with 26 other foreign ministers in requesting a ceasefire during a video call convened by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
After presiding over the meeting, Borrell said that the ministers reached a broad consensus that “the priority is to immediately stop all violence and implement a ceasefire.”
Borrell admitted that Hungary is the only one of the 27 member states and did not approve of his remarks. The EU’s traditional differences in policies against Israel and the Palestinians appeared publicly on Tuesday. He did not provide details.
The Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto later told AFP: “I have general questions about these European statements about Israel… These statements are usually unilateral, and these statements are not helpful, especially in the current situation. Next, when tensions increase, it doesn’t help. So high.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned that if a ceasefire agreement is not reached, the conflict could spread to the entire region. He also said that he hoped that Israel would not initiate ground operations in Gaza.
Le Drian told reporters during the break of the meeting: “Every day there are greater risks: the risk of conflict spreading to the West Bank, the risk of violence within Israel, and the risk of conflict becoming a regional conflict.”
However, other ministers promised that the EU will work with the United States, Russia and the United Nations to restart the peace process.
Malta’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Evarist Bartolo, told Reuters News: “At least, we can try to reach a ceasefire, then provide humanitarian assistance, and then see what we can do to restart the Middle East peace process to address the root causes of violence.” mechanism.
He said: “We cannot allow extremists on both sides to learn from each other’s strengths and set an agenda.”
Since the attack began earlier this month, at least 217 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed in Gaza.
About 1,500 Palestinians were injured. In Israel, 12 people were killed, including two children, and at least 300 others were injured.
“The situation on the ground is very worrying. The number of casualties is heavy. Israeli and Palestinian families are mourning. The imagery is so bad that no one can be indifferent. Waiting is not an option,” Le Drian said.
He also said: “One of the reasons for the serious situation today is that there is no prospect of a political process. What we need to do is to find a way to the political process, but first, we must ensure that the hostilities are ended.”
Quartet
Heiko Maas, the German Foreign Minister, also stated that “weapons must eventually remain silent”.
Maas emphasized the role of the diplomatic Quartet. Among them, the European Union represented by the new Middle East peace envoy Sven Koopmans said that “we are in favor of further expanding his mediation efforts.”
The other three members of the Quartet are the United Nations, the United States and Russia.
Mas added: “We must use our relationship with both parties to encourage confidence-building steps to calm the situation within Israel and the West Bank.”
“Only in this way can it be possible to talk about a lasting solution to the Middle East conflict again.”
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