On Monday 19 February, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service called for restraint in the Middle East, saying that the escalation of military incidents in Gaza and around the strip was "of real concern".
"It is extremely important that the situation does not escalate further and it is crucial that all parties act with restraint", the spokesperson stated in a press release.
"Rocket attacks by militants from Gaza against Israel are unacceptable and need to stop", the spokesperson added, recognising Israel's legitimate security concerns. Several Israeli soldiers were wounded by an explosive device and the Israeli army responded in retaliation, killing two teenage Palestinians – losses of life that the spokesperson described as "deplorable".
According to the EEAS spokesperson, these latest events "highlight the need for a political solution for Gaza, in the framework of the perspective of a two-state solution". "All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm. All Palestinian factions need to increase their efforts to enable the Palestinian Authority to exert its full control over Gaza, and need to counter the efforts of spoilers", the spokesperson added, again stating that the EU remained ready to support this intra-Palestinian reconciliation process, and commending the Egyptian efforts to facilitate the full implementation of the Cairo Agreement of October 2017. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)