Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Members of the European Council adopted a statement setting out the common position of the European Union on the unfolding situation in the Middle East. "The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms Hamas and its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks throughout Israel, and deeply regrets the loss of life. There is no justification for terrorism. We strongly affirm Israel's right to defend itself in accordance with the law," read the statement distributed in Brussels last night. Humanitarian and international cooperation in the face of such violent and indiscriminate attacks. We reiterate the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians at all times in line with international humanitarian law.
We call on Hamas to release all hostages immediately without any preconditions. We reiterate the importance of providing urgent humanitarian aid and stand ready to continue supporting civilians who desperately need it in Gaza, in coordination with partners, to ensure that this assistance is not misused by terrorist organizations. It is necessary to prevent regional escalation.
We remain committed to lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution through revitalized efforts in the Middle East peace process. We stress the need to engage broadly with the legitimate Palestinian authorities as well as regional and international partners who can have a positive role in preventing further escalation.
The statement came after European Union Council President Charles Michel sent an invitation to member states to attend an extraordinary video conference 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.” For more than a thousand innocent Israeli civilians. 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.”