2024-02-20 07:49:26
The European Union warned Israel today against launching an offensive in Rafah, which the bloc’s foreign ministers said would spell disaster for some 1.5 million refugees who have flocked to the border town in the southern Gaza Strip, Reuters reported.
“An attack on Rafah would be absolutely catastrophic … it would be unconscionable,” Irish Foreign Minister Michal Martin said ahead of a meeting of EU 27 foreign ministers in Brussels.
After the meeting, EU foreign policy and security chief Josep Borrell said 26 of the 27 EU countries had agreed to a statement warning against any attack on Rafah and calling for for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid” to the population of the Gaza Strip.
Borrell did not name which country had disagreed with the call, but diplomats said several days ago that Hungary would block such a statement, Reuters noted.
Israel is preparing to launch a ground operation in the southernmost city of Gaza, which Israeli forces call the last bastion of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas after nearly five months of fighting. Israel accuses Hamas fighters of hiding among civilians – a claim the militant group denies – and says all “extraordinary measures” are being taken to avoid civilian casualties.
Despite Israel’s assurances, Borrell said it was impossible to prevent civilian casualties. “We must continue to put pressure on Israel so that they understand that there are so many people on the streets of Rafah that it will be impossible to avoid civilian casualties,” noted Europe’s top diplomat. “This will certainly be contrary to the observance of humanitarian law,” he added.
German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock also called on Israel to respect humanitarian law, but said Israel had a “right to self-defense” as it was clear Hamas fighters were still operating in Rafah territory. “The most important thing would be for Hamas to lay down its weapons,” she said, repeating her call for a “humanitarian ceasefire” to allow refugees to return to their homes. “Over a million people went to southern Gaza because the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) told them to. They can’t just disappear into the sky,” Berbok added.
Meanwhile, it became clear that during the meeting of foreign ministers today in Brussels, Hungary blocked the new EU sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank, DPA noted, citing information from diplomats, BTA reported.
The foreign ministers of Belgium, Ireland and Spain called on the EU to take punitive measures against Israeli settlers for violence against Palestinians, the agency recalls.