The 27 European Foreign Ministers met this Tuesday, October 10, for an emergency meeting on Israel and Palestine, a meeting in hybrid format with some ministers via videoconference and others in the Sultanate of Oman for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This meeting was primarily intended to greet the Palestinian and Israeli foreign ministers, which ultimately did not work, but did not stop the 27 from questioning their involvement in the Middle East and their financial support for the Palestinians.
Published on: October 10, 2023 – 8:41 p.m
2 minutes
With our correspondent in Brussels, Pierre Benazet
According to the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell, the 27 member states of the Union are “95% in line”. There is complete agreement on what was already planned before this meeting: the reaffirmation of solidarity with Israel, the call for de-escalation and the protection of the civilian population.
Beyond Israel’s right to defend itself, Josep Borrell emphasizes that international humanitarian law does not allow a total siege of the Gaza Strip: “No to the blockade of water, food or ‘electricity,'” he emphasizes.
The head of European diplomacy rejects a freeze on financial aid to the Palestinian Authority and emphasizes that humanitarian aid will not be affected by the announced review of development aid projects.
And if, in his opinion, 95% of EU states agree, the fact remains that some have already suspended this development aid, in particular Denmark and Sweden, which announced this at the same time as the meeting of foreign ministers in place.
Europe therefore still has room to speak effectively with one voice in the Middle East.
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