EU leaders who met Saturday in Brussels to appoint the new President of the EU Council and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, also discussed several conflict situations, including Ukraine, Gaza, Iraq, Syria and Libya.
On Gaza, the European Council, which groups the 28 heads of state or government, welcomed the recent cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas reached under the auspices of the Egyptian authorities and urged both parties to fully respect it and ‘’to continue negotiations leading to a fundamental improvement of the living conditions for the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip through the lifting of the Gaza closure regime, and to ending the threat to Israel posed by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza.’’
‘’This should be supported by international monitoring and verification to ensure full implementation of a comprehensive agreement,’’ the EU Council said in its conclusions, stressing that ‘a’ll terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm.’’
The EU said it is urgent ‘’that the Palestinian consensus government exercise its full responsibilities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip including in the field of security and civil administration.’’
‘’The European Council remains deeply concerned about the disastrous humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. It calls for immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access in accordance with international law,’’ the conclusions stated.
‘’The European Council reiterates the readiness of the European Union to contribute to a comprehensive and sustainable solution enhancing the security, welfare and prosperity of Palestinians and Israelis alike.’’ .
The EU reiterated that ‘’only a final agreement based on the two State solution will bring durable peace and stability.’’ ‘’The European Council therefore encourages both parties to re-engage in negotiations to this end. The Gaza strip shall be part of a future State of Palestine.’’