Brussels, 24/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - On 23 July, on behalf of the EU, the Danish Presidency slammed the Israeli Army's attack on the Gaza Strip on Monday which killed numerous civilians, including children, alongside one of the leading members of Hamas: "The EU Presidency strongly condemns any military action directed indiscriminately against a civilian neighbourhood, whether Palestinian or Israeli. There can be no justification for last night's missile attack carried out by the Israeli Air Force in a residential area in Gaza leaving a high number of individuals, including children, killed and injured. The EU Presidency expresses its most sincere condolences to the bereaved families and its wishes for recovery to those injured by this cruel attack. The EU and the international community at large have consistently rejected the Israeli method of extra judicial killings. Neither this nor any other actions causing indiscriminate civilian casualties will bring security to the Israeli public. Military and violent actions only serve to breed more hatred and undermine the attempts by the parties and by the international community to bring about reconciliation and a negotiated end to the conflict. The EU strongly urges militant Palestinian groups to refrain from further terror actions in the wake of this tragic incident. The EU sincerely hopes that the recent talks between the parties may soon continue in spite of this regrettable action." (See yesterday's Europe, p.8 for High Representative Solana's reaction.)
Late afternoon on Tuesday, the President of the EU Council, Per Stig Moller, had a telephone conversation with President Arafat and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres respectively, in which he on behalf of the EU condemned the Israeli attacks in Gaza on Monday night, explains a Presidency press release: "President Arafat stated that the attack was particularly brutal, leaving more than 120 killed and injured, among them many children, women and elderly. Foreign Minister Moller noted that the attack had come just after progress had been achieved in the negotiations on a ceasefire. He therefore urged President Arafat to do everything possible to continue the negotiations and to stop acts of retaliation in order to prevent a new… circle of violence. President Arafat confirmed that he would do his best but at the same time stressed the need for American and EU observers and advisors on the ground…. Foreign Minister Peres said the loss of civilians was a regrettable error and expressed the hope that it would be possible to continue the negotiations process despite the attack."