EU Calls for Respect of Gaza Ceasefire as Senior Official Criticizes Israeli Air Strikes
Brussels: The European Union on Wednesday urged all parties to uphold the fragile ceasefire in Gaza, even as a senior EU official issued unusually sharp criticism of Israel’s recent air strikes on the territory.
“We need a chance for peace, not excuses for new strikes,” European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera wrote on social media, in a rare rebuke of Israeli military actions.
Her comments went further than the official line taken by the European Commission, which avoided direct criticism of Israel.
“We reiterate our call to all parties to continue to respect the ceasefire,” said Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni, who declined to comment on Israel’s latest strikes. Gaza’s civil defence agency said the attacks this week killed more than 100 people.
El Anouni added that the EU “urges all parties to fully commit to implementing all phases of the plan to end the conflict in Gaza and to refrain from any action that could jeopardise the agreement.”
“There is no military solution to this conflict,” he said.
