Regarding the war on Gaza … the European Union’s foreign ministers in front of a sharp test

Tomorrow, Saturday, the foreign ministers of the European Union countries in Copenhagen will meet to discuss the Israeli war in Gaza, amid clear divisions between member states on the joint European response. This meeting comes after the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparation and Crisis Management called for a Habib, the Union to find a “collective voice that reflects our values ​​and principles” in the face of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Union’s discussions come after the attack by Ham, on Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s military, which sparked sharp criticism from several European governments, especially with regard to the killing of civilians and restrictions on the arrival of humanitarian aid. The condemnation of the World Food Security Observatory, the “Integrated Platform Classification of Food Security”, last week increased the presence of a famine in Gaza, which Israel rejected. However, the European positions are different from the measures to be taken. While some ministers called for economic measures to pressure Israel, others pointed to the need to continue the diplomatic dialogue. Last month, the European Commission suggested imposing restrictions on Israel’s participation in the European Union’s research financing program, but the proposal has not yet received sufficient support from member states. According to diplomats, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland expressed its support for the proposal, while Germany and Italy have reserved. Habib said in statements to reporters in Brussels: “What is happening there is a worry, and all of us should be disturbed … This is a tragedy, and history will hold us accountable.” The European Commissioner confirmed that the time has come for the European Union to find a collective voice on Gaza, but it refused to determine the procedure that it considers to be the most appropriate, stressing the importance of increasing pressure on Israel to protect civilians. Despite the seriousness of the discussions, the ministers are not expected that any concrete decisions in the Copenhagen meeting, which reflects the deep divisions within the European Union. In addition to the war in Gaza, discussions will also address the war in Ukraine and the future of the Russian -frozen assets in the European Union, which is worth about 210 billion euros (245.85 billion dollars), as part of the sanctions imposed on Moscow.