The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, announced on the evening of Monday 20 November after an informal Council meeting of foreign affairs ministers, that the ministers would be discussing the stabilisation of Gaza and the revitalisation of the two-state solution at their Council meeting on 11 December.
During the virtual meeting, the High Representative briefed ministers on his high-level exchanges in Israel (see EUROPE 13294/18), Palestine (see EUROPE 13295/3), Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan (see EUROPE 13296/14). He highlighted two main lessons: the absolute urgency of the situation, particularly in view of the dramatic humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need to free the hostages, and the shared objective of working towards a lasting peace. “We will advance work in this regard as a priority”, explained Mr Borrell on X (formerly Twitter).
“The EU has the potential to serve as an honest broker towards ending hostilities and reinvigorating the political process aimed at establishing two states living side by side in peace”, Estonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna said on X.
On X, several ministers stressed the importance of protecting civilians, freeing hostages and achieving peace. “Our European priorities (are): the release of hostages, an immediate humanitarian pause, increased aid, a political perspective for two states”, summarised France’s Catherine Colonna.
For Luxembourg’s Xavier Bettel, “we should not have to ‘choose a side’ - every life matters equally and our duty is to protect the most vulnerable”.
“An immediate humanitarian ceasefire is necessary. The situation in Gaza is terrible, tragic and getting worse every day. We are witnessing the burial of thousands of children and the bombing of schools. These are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. It is our responsibility to protect the most vulnerable”, added Slovenia’s Tanja Fajon.
According to Greece’s George Gerapetritis, “in Gaza, there is an urgent need for at least a five-day humanitarian pause to open a sustainable humanitarian corridor that will allow the channelling of essential supplies (food, water, medical services) and the restoration of critical infrastructure”.
For his part, Latvian foreign affairs minister Krišjānis Kariņš reiterated that a two-state political solution was “the only way to reduce the grounds for radicalisation and guarantee peaceful coexistence in the future”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)