Sánchez and three other EU prime ministers call for a “clear and common” position from the Union on Gaza: “Our credibility is at stake”
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and three other Prime Ministers of the European Union (the Belgian Alexander de Croo, the Irish Leo Varadkar and the Maltese Robert Abela) sent a letter this Saturday to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, demanding a “serious debate” at the European Council next week with the aim of agreeing on “a clear and common position on the conflict” of the twenty-seven.
“Two months after the start of hostilities, the death toll and the dire humanitarian situation have reached alarming proportions,” the letter said. “These are dark hours for millions of people in Palestine and Israel. Anti-Semitic incidents are occurring again across Europe and we cannot tolerate it.”
After reiterating their condemnation of Hamas attacks on Israeli territory and insisting that Israel has the right to defend itself “within the framework of international and humanitarian law,” the four leaders called on the EU to “continue go”.
The prime ministers want the EU to take three positions: The first is to call for a “permanent” humanitarian ceasefire that “can lead to an end to hostilities”.
Second: “Immediately take effective measures to protect innocent civilians.” “Humanitarian aid must reach those who need it sustainably and in sufficient quantities,” the letter says. “Preventing aid from reaching civilians may violate international law.”
The third, and perhaps most controversial, is to “open a political process to achieve the two-state solution” and “provide the Palestinian Authority with adequate financial and political support to take control of Gaza,” which, like they say “also” is vital to Israel’s security.” “There is no return to the status quo before October 7,” the letter says.
The three positions are contrary to Israel's expressed intentions.
The prime ministers also call for “banning movement in certain areas and freezing the assets of violent settlers attacking communities of displaced Palestinians” to “prevent escalation in the West Bank.”
The four European leaders have called for an international peace conference with the parties to be convened “as soon as possible,” as agreed by the European Council on October 26. “The credible prospect of recognizing a Palestinian state together with the State of Israel is the basis for progress towards mutual recognition, peace and security in the region,” they point out.