The European Union has called for an immediate end to Israel’s ongoing inhumane attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Anadolu Agency. On Tuesday, the EU expressed deep concern over the situation in Gaza, which has worsened due to Israel’s continued assaults, and urged a return to a ceasefire without delay.
Stavros Lambrinidis, head of the EU delegation to the United Nations, stated, “The EU is deeply concerned about the deaths of humanitarian aid workers and calls for accountability for those responsible.” He also urged for the immediate restoration of electricity and the unrestricted entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
“While exercising its right to self-defense, Israel must fully respect international law, particularly international humanitarian law,” Lambrinidis said during an open UN Security Council debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.”
He added that the EU strongly condemns the rise in violence in the West Bank, particularly in East Jerusalem.
The Israeli military resumed its attacks on Gaza on March 18, breaking the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement reached with Hamas on January 19. Since October 2023, Israel's brutal aggression has killed over 52,300 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children.
In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Gaza. Additionally, a genocide case against Israel regarding the war in Gaza is ongoing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Regarding Syria, Lambrinidis emphasized that Syria’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within secure borders must be fully respected. “The EU calls on Israel to adhere to the terms of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Syria and Israel,” he said firmly, adding that the demilitarized buffer zone must be respected.
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2023, Israel has launched extensive airstrikes on Syrian military installations. In December, the Israeli military occupied the demilitarized zone of the Golan Heights, violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and further expanding Israel’s control over occupied territory since the 1967 Middle East war.
Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on December 8, marking the end of the Ba'ath Party’s rule that had been in place since 1963.
Would you like a summarized version of this in bullet points or infographic format?
