EU ‘concerned about Gaza humanitarian situation’

The European Union says that Israel has a right to protect itself against missiles from Gaza but calls on the army to act “proportionately” and to avoid civilian casualties.

The European Council, the body comprising the member states’ heads of state and government, “condemns the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel and the indiscriminate targeting of civilians,” it says in a statement. “Israel has the right to protect its population from this kind of attacks. In doing so, it must act proportionately and ensure the protection of civilians at all times.”

The council “deeply deplores the loss of innocent lives and the high number of wounded civilians in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israeli military operations and is deeply concerned about the rapid and dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation,” the statement continues. “The European Council calls on both sides to deescalate the situation, to end the violence, to end the suffering of the civilian populations notably by allowing access to humanitarian assistance, and return to calm.”

The European leaders welcome ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and calls on Hamas to agree to such a ceasefire.

“Israelis and Palestinians need to make the strategic choice of peace in order to allow their future generations to live lives freed from past conflicts and to enjoy the stability, security and prosperity which they are currently being denied,” the statement reads.