According to draft conclusions of Wednesday 19 March, the European Council is expected to deplore the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has caused a large number of civilian casualties in recent air strikes, and to call for an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement. In an earlier version, the text was firmer towards Israel, condemning the strikes.
In the version of 19 March, the European Council also deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages.
The leaders stressed the need to make progress towards the second phase of the agreement, “with a view to its full implementation leading to the release of all hostages and a permanent end to hostilities”. The European Council also stresses “the importance of unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza”, specifying that this access and distribution, and the supply of electricity must resume immediately.
Welcoming the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (see EUROPE 13596/20), the EU says it stands ready to engage in dialogue with its Arab and international partners on this basis.
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/g0r (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)