Josep Borel stressed that the humanitarian situation of the civilian population is dramatic and that the UN Security Council resolution calling for immediate humanitarian pauses is a big step forward, but its rapid implementation must be ensured.
The emergency teleconference of the EU Foreign Ministers on the Middle East ended a while ago.
The EU High Representative informed the ministers about his contacts in Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan.
As Mr. Borrell noted after the teleconference, there are two main takeaways from his visit to the region: “a sense of absolute urgency, particularly because of the dramatic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and a shared desire to work for a lasting peace in the region.”
He also pointed out that a fundamental political conclusion after his mission to the region, which he shared with EU Foreign Ministers, is that “the best guarantee for Israel’s security is the creation of a Palestinian state.”
“I will ask the European External Action Service to submit an options paper on the future of Gaza, which I would like to discuss with Ministers. The next Foreign Affairs Council in December will allow us to take stock again and focus particularly on stabilizing Gaza and revitalizing the two-state solution.”
In addition, Josep Borrell stressed that the humanitarian situation of the civilian population is dramatic and that the UN Security Council resolution calling for immediate humanitarian pauses is a big step forward, but its rapid implementation must be ensured.
He underlined at the same time that “there is also an urgent need to release the hostages”.
The High Representative expressed his concern “about the rapid deterioration of the situation in the West Bank and the risk of further escalation there – despite the efforts of the Palestinian Authority to de-escalate the situation”. He noted that, in light of increased extremist and settler violence against Palestinians, there is a real risk of the situation escalating.
On the part of neighboring countries, he said, there is a strong desire to avoid an escalation of the conflict, adding that the Houthi ship hijacking reports are yet another alarming signal of the danger of regional escalation. Finally, he added that diplomacy remains the best way to avoid uncontrolled escalation and despite the enormous challenges, “we must advance our concerns for the stabilization of Gaza and the future Palestinian state”.
Source :Skai
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