“There is no justification for any act of terrorism. The attacks of Hamas are among the most brutal in the history of Israel. As leaders of the European Union, we call to stop violence and to release the hostages. Israel has the right to defend its citizens, but every action has to be taken in accordance with the norms of international law,” said Prime Minister Kaja Kallas after the Council meeting.
“It is also important to ensure access to humanitarian aid to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe,” the prime minister noted, commending the European Commission for tripling the humanitarian aid it is providing. According to the prime minister, it is important to distinguish clearly between Hamas terrorists and the Palestinian people.
“Cooperation with partners is important here. We in the EU are working closely with countries in the region and other partners to prevent the conflict in the Middle East from escalating. We also discussed how to ensure long-term sustainable stability in the region,” Kallas said.
Next week, the European Council will have a regular meeting in Brussels to continue the discussion on the situation in the Middle East, among other issues.
Over the weekend, EU heads of state and government made a joint statement: https://europa.eu/!nmpnWg
Photos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAYRhw
