On Saturday 8 June, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, welcomed the release of four Israeli hostages, while denouncing a new “massacre of civilians” in Gaza.
“Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv are free and safe today. We share the relief of their families and call for the release of all the remaining hostages”, stressed Mr Borrell on X. They were abducted during the Nova music festival on 7 October.
According to the Hamas Ministry of Health, the Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp that led to the rescue of the hostages killed 274 people. According to the Israeli army, fewer than 100 people were killed during the operation. These deaths were denounced by Mr Borrell. “Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling. We condemn this in the strongest possible terms”, he explained on X. He added: “The bloodbath must end immediately.”
The High Representative said that US President Joe Biden’s plan was “the way forward” for achieving a lasting ceasefire, rescuing all the hostages and putting an end to the suffering and killing. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)