The idea of asking for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to reach Gaza elicits "consensus" among the Twenty-seven, the high representative of the EU's Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, announced yesterday at the end of the meeting ministerial meeting in Luxembourg, in which the traditional dividing lines on the conflict were once again highlighted.
The initiative to request a pause in the attacks by the two sides during which the international community can deliver basic supplies to the strip appears to be the only possible diplomatic formula that can be agreed at European level, given the lack of unanimity regarding to the "ceasefire" request launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres. The decision will be debated at the highest level by European heads of state and government during the summit that will bring them together on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.
"There is a basic consensus to understand that a pause for humanitarian reasons would be very necessary, so that humanitarian aid could enter without running the risks of continued military action", defended Borrell, who did not hide that a pause it is, by definition, a mere "interruption" and implies the subsequent resumption of the suspended action. "It is a less ambitious goal than a ceasefire", but which "can be agreed more quickly".
"There is a vital need to get water, food and medical assistance to Gaza, the degree of human suffering is immense", lamented the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, Micheál Martin, who called to distinguish between "civilians of Gaza and Hamas". While Dublin supports the request for a cease-fire, Berlin resists any decision that curtails the right of the Jewish state to defend itself. "We have all seen that terrorism does not stop, the massive missile attacks on Israel...", warned the head of German Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock. "We cannot end the humanitarian catastrophe as long as terrorism from Gaza continues," he said.
In the face of persistent division, the EU is determined to focus, in the short term, on easing the situation in the Gaza Strip and facilitating the aid of basic supplies, including the fuel needed to run the desalination plants that supply of drinking water in the territory, but without losing sight of the need to defend respect for international law in Israel's response. The situation "is serious", admitted Borrell, who warned of the risk of a regional escalation and bet to maintain the pressure and promote a peace formula based on the two-state solution.
