BARCELONA: A forum of nations including the European Union members, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Turkey on Monday stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Union for the Mediterranean also called upon Israel to stop unilateral actions undermining a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the Gaza war spreads across the Middle East.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in a press conference after their meeting in Barcelona, called for a political solution to the crisis in Gaza and Lebanon adding that each day drives more people to despair and sows the seeds of hatred that could wipe out entire generations.
The forum, in a joint statement termed permanent peace and the end of hostilities in Lebanon and Gaza, is a top priority.
They also called upon Israel to stop its provocative actions such as building settlements in the occupied West Bank and targeting UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. They added that all stakeholders must protect civilians in Gaza and respect international humanitarian law.
Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza now in its 388th day has killed at least 43,020 people and injured more than 101,110. In Lebanon, Israel has killed 2,672 people since October last year.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that Israel’s response must be in proportion adding that the military escalation in Lebanon has crossed all limits. He also denounced Israel’s attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon terming them unacceptable.
