An emergency summit of European Union leaders to discuss the repercussions of the escalation between the Israelis and the Palestinians 

Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
European Union Council President Charles Michel invited member states to attend an extraordinary video conference the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17, 2023. The invitation letter published by the bloc’s institutions in Brussels stated: “The brutal terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against Israel last week led to the tragic loss of more than a thousand people.” An innocent Israeli civilian. The hostages must be released immediately and without any preconditions. There is no justification for terrorism.
We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel and the victims of terrorist attacks. Israel has the right to defend itself in full compliance with international law, in particular international humanitarian law.
The tragic scenes unfolding in the Gaza Strip as a result of the siege and lack of basic needs, in addition to the devastation caused by the massive bombing, are ringing alarm bells in the international community.
In light of this, I would like to call for an extraordinary meeting of the European Council, via videoconference, on Tuesday 17 October at 5:30 pm. It is vital that the European Council, in line with the Treaties and our values, defines our common position and sets out a clear and unified course of action that reflects the complexity of the unfolding situation. This conflict has many consequences, including for us in the European Union.
First, the European Union has always been, and must always be, a steadfast defender of peace and respect for international law, as was the case in the aggressive war launched by Russia against Ukraine. The Union must work to provide humanitarian assistance and avoid regional escalation of the conflict and any violations of humanitarian law.
Second, strong engagement with regional actors is key because they are the most affected by the conflict and can play an effective role. We should never lose sight of the importance of striving to achieve a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution by revitalizing efforts in the Middle East peace process.
Third, conflict can have major security consequences for our societies. If we are not careful, this could exacerbate tensions between communities and fuel extremism.
Finally, there is a great risk of the migration and movement of a large number of people to neighboring countries that already have a large number of refugees on their territories. If it is not handled carefully, there is a risk that waves of migration to Europe will continue.
It is necessary that we address all these challenges together. Our unity is our strength. I look forward to meeting you and exchanging views.”