European Union leaders will call for the establishment of “humanitarian corridors and pauses” to get urgently-needed aid into Gaza, according to the final draft of a text to be approved at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
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“The European Council expresses its gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses,” the text says.
“The European Union will work closely with partners in the region to protect civilians, provide assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter, ensuring that such assistance is not abused by terrorist organizations.”
Spanish Minister of Social Rights Ione Bellara said in a social media post called to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel, implement economic sanctions, impose a weapons embargo, and bring Israeli leaders before the International Criminal Court for war crimes.
Earlier Japan urged Israel to suspend its assault on Gaza to allow humanitarian assistance in. Israeli ambassador to Tokyo Gilad Cohen was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday where he received the request from Minister Yōko Kamikawa.
The UN General Assembly is expected to vote later on Thursday on a resolution on the Gaza war. On Wednesday, the Security Council rejected rival United States and Russian resolutions.
The resolution drafted by the United States, Israel’s closest ally, would have reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense, urged respect for international laws, especially protection of civilians, and called for “humanitarian pauses” to deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza. after 10 member states voted in favor of the resolution council, Russia, China and the United Arab Emirates voted against, and Brazil and Mozambique abstained. The resolution was not adopted because permanent council members Russia and China cast vetoes.
The Russian resolution, which was then put to a vote, would have called for an immediate “humanitarian cease-fire” and unequivocally condemned Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and “indiscriminate attacks” on civilians and civilians in Gaza. In that vote, four countries voted in favor, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates and Gabon. The United States and United Kingdom voted against, and nine countries abstained. The resolution wasn’t adopted because it failed to get the minimum nine “yes” votes.
