The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas, after a meeting with the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in Brussels on Sunday.
“We must do everything in our power to bring about an immediate end to hostilities, to achieve the immediate release of all hostages, to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza,” Borrell said at a press conference.
Borrell was speaking at the headquarters of the European Commission alongside Mohammad Mustafa, the recently appointed prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.
The three met with Palestinian Authority donors in Brussels on Sunday to discuss the newly formed West Bank government led by Mustafa.
Borrell also said allegations that Israel is committing “genocide” should be investigated.
Noting a ruling by the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday, which ordered Israel to halt its offensive on the Gaza city of Rafah, Borrell said: “This important verdict from the international Court of Justice also orders that Israel guarantees access to any United Nations mandate to investigate allegations of genocide.”
While he emphasized that he is only calling them “allegations,” Borrell added, “they must be investigated in accordance with the ICJ ruling.”
Norway – which is not a member of the EU – announced on Wednesday that it will recognize the State of Palestine. The EU itself cannot do the same unless all of its 27 Member States do so first.
Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, after elections the previous year led to fighting between Hamas and Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
