The complex tapestry of relations between EU leaders was underlined by the recent call for “corridors and pauses” to enable the direly needed humanitarian aid for Gaza. After extensive deliberations spanning more than five hours at a Brussels summit, leaders reached the consensus for unimpeded and safe access.
The agreement came in the wake of a significant divergence of opinions from member states, some of whom were advocating for a more extended, singular pause in the armed conflict.
Israel’s retaliatory acts of bombing Gaza and severing the delivery of essential supplies such as food, fuel, and other necessities originated following an attack by Hamas. This assault resulted in many casualties, 1,400 fatalities, and the abduction of 224 individuals.
The Hamas health department, currently in control of Gaza, reported an upwards of 7,000 fatalities since the commencement of the conflict. This has exerted an unimaginable strain on the healthcare system, leading to its imminent collapse. Around one-third of hospitals have ceased operations entirely, and those still standing only manage emergency cases.
The inaugural face-to-face meeting of the EU leaders post the October 7 attacks resulted in a statement condoning the offenses by Hamas. The leaders emphasized Israel’s entitlement to self-defense in accordance with global law.
Their statement expressed severe concern for the deteriorating state of humanitarian affairs in Gaza, calling for swift and unimpeded humanitarian aid and access. The proposed measures included humanitarian corridors and pauses, a noteworthy result, considering the often divergent perspectives these 27 nations have regarding the Israel-Palestinian feud.
The EU is poised to cooperate closely with regional stakeholders to ensure civilian safety and facilitate access to food, water, healthcare, fuel, and shelter during these temporary humanitarian pauses. This followed the intricate negotiation on whether a singular “pause” or multiple “pauses” should be endorsed.
This preference for multiple pauses was also shared by the European nations that have expressed a strong pro-Israel bias, including Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and more prominently, Germany.
Despite the diplomatic victory, some countries felt a lingering disappointment. The leaders from Ireland and Spain, who demanded a ceasefire in their statements to journalists before the negotiations, voiced their discontent.
However, the last-minute addition to the EU statement endorsing the establishment of an imminent international peace conference was welcomed by Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s interim Prime Minister. Earlier in the day, he had proposed an international peace summit in half a year to seek a resolution for this enduring regional conflict.
The EU, lacking military power, is nonetheless armed with diplomatic leverage and financial aid. It’s worth noting that their statement regarding the situation in Gaza might not prompt significant change. Earlier, Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, stated Israel would base its wartime strategy in Gaza on its own interests.
