European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Brussels for a European summit on October 26, 2023 (JOHN THYS / AFP)
European leaders meeting at a summit in Brussels on Thursday evening struggled to find a common position on the issue of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some insisted on the right of the Jewish state to defend itself, others on the need for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
This war is mobilizing European attention at a moment when doubts are growing about the West’s ability to continue supporting Ukraine against Russia as another major conflict rages at the bloc’s gates.
“The manner in which to respond to Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel is a controversial issue. Opinions differ,” stressed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban upon his arrival, saying he was “very positive for Israel’s right to defend itself.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated his support for “a humanitarian ceasefire (…) to give the Palestinians all the help they need.” “The suffering we see in Gaza is unacceptable,” he stressed.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban answers questions from journalists before a European summit in Brussels on October 26, 2023 (JOHN THYS / AFP)
In the Middle East, the Twenty-Seven has traditionally been divided between states that insist on the necessary solidarity with Palestinian civilians, such as Ireland and Spain, and Israel’s most ardent defenders, such as Germany, Austria and Hungary.
EU leaders arrived in Brussels in the early afternoon, while Israel announced it had entered the Gaza Strip for a few hours to “prepare the battlefield” of a land offensive.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz answers questions from journalists, October 26, 2023 in Brussels (JOHN THYS / AFP)
Chancellor Olaf Scholz unreservedly supported this effort.
“Israel is a democratic state with very humanitarian principles guiding it, and we can therefore be sure that the Israeli army will respect the rules of international law in its actions. I have no doubt about that,” he said.
“Break” or “breaks”?
After days of negotiations, the latest draft summit declaration calls for “humanitarian corridors and breaks” to provide aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip. The previous version referred to a “humanitarian pause” in the singular.
Food distribution at a camp for displaced people in Khan Younes, southern Gaza Strip, October 25, 2023 (MAHMUD HAMS / AFP)
This statement, which is subject to change at the time of the meeting, does not include the United Nations’ call for a “ceasefire.” Germany defends the establishment of “humanitarian windows,” plural, and believes a pause could jeopardize Israel’s right to self-defense.
The Twenty-Seven all strongly condemned Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack, which Israel said left at least 1,400 dead and more than 220 hostages, four of whom have been released since Friday evening.
But consensus is less strong on whether to stop Israel’s retaliatory bombings in the Gaza Strip, which have killed more than 6,500 people, according to the health ministry of Hamas, which controls that Palestinian territory.
Reassure Ukraine
This war in the Middle East has also raised fears among some that it will eclipse the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for 20 months. This comes at a time when the crisis has raised questions in the US Congress about the sustainability of US military aid to Kiev.
The 27 try to calm down. The EU will continue to support Ukraine “for as long as necessary,” it said in its draft statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reiterated his desire for his country to join the EU as soon as possible and hoped that accession negotiations could begin at the next European summit in mid-December.
This question must be viewed “from the perspective of security,” he called on the European heads of state and government on Thursday, to whom he was connected via video conference.
“Russia is fighting today not to stay in Mariupol or Crimea, but to be able to come to Tartu (in Estonia) or Gdansk (Poland),” he said.
“Russia is trying to change the borders of Ukraine, not only to conquer one or another of our regions, but also to change all the borders that it does not like,” he still said.
Volodymyr Zelensky assured that his country is making all necessary efforts to comply with European criteria. “We count on your unity in response – the decision to start negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.”
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