What Happened:
The 27 leaders across the EU had previously been deeply divided and had failed to unify the EU’s official response. After talks on Thursday, after a long conversation on creating a statement that all 27 leaders agreed with, leaders announced that they are shocked by the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians” as well as “famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza.”
This is the first united response from leaders, but it took some time to reach the phrasing that they all agreed with. Previously, leaders were afraid to release an official statement over concerns about disregarding the bloc’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
The Details:
EU member states and their leadership have struggled to pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire. Some were ready to release statements as early as February, but others were more hesitant. By the end of February, the bloc was ready to call for a ceasefire, the exception being Hungary, which used its veto power to kill the vote.
The EU is slowly following the U.S., as Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he is pushing for an immediate ceasefire as well as a release of hostages in Gaza. The resolution will be announced at the UN Security Council. The council has also voted to support a maritime corridor that links Cyprus with Gaza and allows the passage of aid by sea. However, logisticians and analysts have both claimed it is slower and less effective than a land route.
This has emboldened EU leaders to continue to push Israel to allow aid into Gaza. Even with European leaders creating maritime shipping lanes and U.S. airdrops, pockets of famine are still showing up across Gaza. International organizations have suspended food deliveries due to the chaos that occurs when the convoys enter the strip.
The UN’s World Food Program has stated that if something does not change soon, one in four Palestinians will be in famine conditions by May. This has appalled both EU and US officials, which are changing directions after previously shooting down multiple UN resolutions on a ceasefire.
What’s Next:
There is considerable pressure mounting on Israel from the international community. Some believe this should be a considerable warning to Netanyahu as the international community begins to focus their concern on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
It is possible that countries will continue to call for a ceasefire to add pressure on Israel’s government. However, experts and officials across the world remain concerned about the conditions on the strip. Many believe that the fastest way aid can be delivered is on the ground, which has been incredibly difficult to achieve.
