Prime Minister António Costa this Thursday downplayed disagreements in the European Union (EU) over the terminology relating to the appeal for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, between a pause and a humanitarian ceasefire, emphasizing rather that it is necessary to ensure “conditions of existence”.
“We are not going to get carried away with terminology. The main thing is that conditions are created for the existence of humanitarian aid,” said the head of government in Brussels.
Speaking on arrival at the European Council, which took place during the intense bombing of Tel Aviv against the Gaza Strip following the attack by the Islamist group Hamas on October 7, Antonio Costa stressed that the EU “clearly recognizes the right of Israel to respond militarily by destroying Hamas’s offensive capabilities, this It’s clear”.
“Now we cannot confuse Hamas with the Palestinian people or with all the people living in the Gaza Strip, and we cannot cause collateral damage during a military operation against Hamas, which would be a humanitarian tragedy for the entire population of Gaza. Gaza Strip,” he emphasized.
Therefore, “it is necessary to create conditions, because obviously there cannot be humanitarian aid instead of bombing,” he insisted.
“It is necessary, whether it is a ceasefire or this new form of humanitarian pause, to create conditions so that humanitarian support can be effective and not hampered by ongoing hostilities,” said António Costa.
EU leaders will meet this Thursday and Friday in Brussels to discuss tensions in the Middle East, the push for a humanitarian pause in Gaza and talks on a two-state solution, as well as European issues such as migration and the budget.
One of the goals of this summit is to lead to a common position among the 27 heads of government and EU states on providing humanitarian support to the Gaza Strip, which is why the latest draft conclusions, which Lusa had access to, states that “access and humanitarian assistance must carried out quickly, safely and unhindered, through all necessary measures, including corridors and humanitarian pauses.”
This phrase “humanitarian pause” appeared after the previous version of the draft conclusions contained this expression in the singular, without ever calling for a “ceasefire.”
The call for a humanitarian pause in the Gaza Strip finds consensus among member states, but Portugal, for example, has already admitted that it prefers the EU position to advocating a humanitarian ceasefire, which has not been accepted by countries such as Germany.
“We all need to understand each other in order to come to a common position. Whether for historical reasons or due to different views on the practical application of international law, it is known that not all Member States have the same position. “And what has been achieved, at least since last week, is that there is a common position between the various member states of the European Union speaking with one voice, in the sense of a commitment that we all must have to ensure that what is fundamental ” , concluded Antonio Costa.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.