9/9/2024–|Last update: 9/9/202407:48 PM (Makkah Time)
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said on Monday that the European Union could exert political and diplomatic pressure on Israel to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.
Borrell added, in a press conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, that he supports the mediation efforts made by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, stressing that it will be difficult for the rest of the parties if the mediators find it difficult to impose a solution.
Referring to Israel, the European official said he did not understand why one party had been stalling for months on ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing accusations of imposing new conditions to derail efforts to reach a deal that would include a ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange.
Borrell stressed that it is important to cease fire and release the “hostages” to agree on the entry of civilian crews to begin their work in Gaza. He also stressed the importance of allowing the wounded and ambulances to enter through the crossing that the Israeli army took control of last May at the beginning of its invasion of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief warned that “Gaza could turn into a Mogadishu or Haiti without security or order,” as he put it.
Borrell indicated that the European Union is studying a proposal to impose sanctions on two Israeli ministers due to their racist statements, saying that he had submitted a proposal in this regard.
Days ago, EU foreign ministers discussed imposing sanctions on Israeli National Security and Finance Ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, according to Israeli media.
The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said the day before yesterday, Saturday, that Tel Aviv informed the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, that it could not receive him on the date of his visit.
The Israeli newspaper reported that Borrell announced in a letter to the Israeli Foreign Ministry that he intends to visit the country on September 14 and 15.
