Foreign ministers from the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) will meet in an emergency due to the worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict, namely the recent Hamas attack and the Israeli response.
“In light of what recently happened between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the High Representative [da UE para os Negócios Estrangeiros, Josep Borrell,] convened an urgent and extraordinary meeting of ministers,” European Commission spokesman for foreign affairs Peter Stano said at a press conference in Brussels.
The meeting will take place on Tuesday. Portuguese Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho will participate in the videoconference.
The Commission spokesman added that the meeting will partly take place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, where Josep Borrell is currently participating in the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council: “Some ministers from member states are already there physically, they will attend in person, the rest via videoconference.” .
The purpose of the extraordinary meeting is to “discuss what happened” last weekend, understand the “consequences and implications” of the escalating tensions and what the 27 countries can do from now on, commented Peter Stano.
Asked about the possibility that EU money intended for the Palestinian population would be used to finance Hamas, Commission spokesman Eric Mamer assured that “there is no such possibility” and that at a meeting on Wednesday, foreign ministers will “check the whole situation”, from conflict before humanitarian assistance provided 27.
“Discussions are already underway, but the EU does not finance Hamas either directly or indirectly,” the spokesman said, recalling that the organization is on the EU bloc’s list of terrorist organizations.
Regarding the Israeli response, which resulted in a large number of civilian casualties, Peter Stano added that “Israel has the right to defend itself under international law” and that “Hamas is also harming the Palestinian population.”
“This will only lead to increased tensions,” the Commission spokesman said, adding that unless both sides return to the table of negotiations and dialogue, “the cycle of violence will continue forever.”
Regarding allegations that Iran may have financed an attack carried out by Hamas, Peter Stano commented that “the EU has no right to point fingers” and called for the need to “ensure that the Hamas attack stops.”
AFE/IS // APN
Lusa/The End