EU’s Borrell questions US giving Israel one month to improve Gaza situation; Germany’s Scholz backs sending arms to Israel

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The EU’s foreign policy chief appears to criticize the United States for giving Israel one month to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, saying that during that time, too many people would die.

“The US has been saying to Israel that they have to improve humanitarian support to Gaza, but they gave one month delay. One-month delay at the current pace of people being killed. It’s too many people,” Josep Borrell tells reporters ahead of a European Union leaders’ summit.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris says the bloc was not doing enough to end the war and he would continue to work with Spain to change the dynamics among the 27-nation bloc.

“Europe has not yet used every lever at its disposal to bring a ceasefire,” he says.

Speaking on arrival in Brussels German Chancellor Olaf Scholz underscores the differences in Europe saying that Israel’s security should not be compromised and appeared to take a swipe at French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for countries to stop supplying offensive weapons that can be used by Israel in Gaza.

“All criteria must be respected, such as international law. When it comes to monetary aid, which must go to Gaza, it’s about preventing the war from escalating further,’ he says.

“However, it is clear that supporting Israel also means that we are constantly ensuring Israel’s defense capability, for example by supplying military goods or weapons.”