The President of the European Council convenes an emergency summit teleconference on the developments in the Middle East.

In particular, as stated in the letter of invitation to the 27 leaders of the EU member states, the summit video conference will take place on Tuesday, October 17 at 5:30 pm. (Veglio time s.s.).

“It is of the utmost importance that the European Council, in accordance with the Treaties and our values, define our common position and define a clear single course of action that reflects the complexity of the evolving situation» notes Charles Michel.

He points out that “The violent terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel last Saturday resulted in the tragic loss of more than a thousand innocent Israeli citizens. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. There is no excuse for terror».

“We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel and the victims of the terrorist attacks. Israel has the right to defend itself in full compliance with international law, especially international humanitarian law,” adds the President of the European Council.

It underlines at the same time that “the tragic scenes unfolding in the Gaza Strip as a result of the siege and the lack of basic needs in combination with the devastation caused by the significant bombardments are sounding the alarm bells for the international community”, adding that “this conflict has many consequences, including for us in the European Union”.

Mr. Michel points out that “the Union has always been and must always be a steadfast champion of peace and respect for international law, as in the case of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The Union must work to provide humanitarian aid and avoid regional escalation of the conflict and possible violations of humanitarian law».

He also states that “strong engagement with regional actors is key, as they are most affected by the conflict and can play an effective role. We must never lose sight of the importance of seeking a lasting and sustainable peace based on a two-state solution through renewed efforts in the Middle East peace process».

“The conflict could have significant consequences for the security of our societies. If we are not careful, it has the potential to exacerbate intercommunal tensions and fuel extremism» he adds.

The President of the European Council concludes by emphasizing that there is a great risk of immigration and movements of large numbers of people to neighboring countries that already have a significant number of refugees on their territory. “If not dealt with carefully, there is a risk of further migration waves to Europe. It is imperative that we tackle all these challenges together. Our unity is our strength.”