After a night of violence in Israel and Palestine,on Wednesday 12 May the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called for the avoidance of a broader conflict.
The military escalation between Hamas and Israel intensified on the night of 11 to 12 May, with hundreds of rockets launched from Gaza on Tel Aviv and hundreds of retaliatory shots from the Israeli army. At least 48 people were killed and hundreds injured.
“The EU calls for an immediate end to the ongoing violence. Everything must be done to prevent a broader conflict, which will, first and foremost, affect the civilian populations on both sides”, stressed Mr Borrell in a statement.
Explaining that the EU was “dismayed” by the large number of dead and injured civilians, including children, he said the priority should be to protect civilians. “All efforts should be directed at avoiding civilian casualties, and supporting de-escalation”, the High Representative stressed.
And while the indiscriminate firing of rockets by Hamas and other groups at Israeli civilians is “unacceptable”, and Israel has a legitimate right to protect its civilian population, “this response needs to be proportionate and with maximum restraint in the use of force”, Mr Borrell warned.
The High Representative announced that he was in contact with the parties concerned in the region and with the international community, including through the Middle East Quartet, in order to de-escalate the situation as a matter of priority and to support efforts to end further violence.
After a conversation with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said he was “very concerned about the recent upsurge in violence and indiscriminate targeting. The priority must be de-escalation and prevention of loss of innocent civilian life on both sides”, he added. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)