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European Council urges ‘unhindered’ aid, access into Gaza Strip

The United Nations says nowhere is safe in the Hamas-controlled territory.

At a symposium in the European Parliament on countering terrorism are (from left) European parliament members Bert-Jan Ruissen of the Netherlands and Lukas Mandl of Austria; CEO of the International Legal Forum attorney Arsen Ostrovsky; and Eric Gozlan of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue, March 29, 2023. Credit: Courtesy.
At a symposium in the European Parliament on countering terrorism are (from left) European parliament members Bert-Jan Ruissen of the Netherlands and Lukas Mandl of Austria; CEO of the International Legal Forum attorney Arsen Ostrovsky; and Eric Gozlan of the International Council for Diplomacy and Dialogue, March 29, 2023. Credit: Courtesy.

An international body representing 27 countries has issued a statement warning about “the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza,” ruled by Hamas.

The European Council, which directs priorities for the European Union, said it “reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Hamas for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel. The use of civilians as human shields by Hamas is a particularly deplorable atrocity.”

The council called on the terrorist organization to release the 224 captured hostages. It declared “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 for humanitarian needs.”

The statement also urged for preventing the escalation of the conflict, as well as noted reviving a two-state solution.

“Israel is a democratic state that is led by very humanitarian principles, so one can be sure that the Israeli army will respect the rules that arise from international law in what it does,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “I have no doubt about that.”

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