Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo arrives to attend a European Council summit during the second and last day at the EU headquarters, in Brussels, on March 22, 2024. (Credit Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP)
The EU's 27 leaders called on Thursday for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in Gaza and urged Israel not to launch a major ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah.
"The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable cease-fire," the leaders said after meeting in Brussels, while also calling for "the unconditional release of all hostages."
The Council "urges the Israeli government not to undertake a ground operation in Rafah, which would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance," they added in their conclusions.
More than a million Palestinians are "currently seeking safety from the fighting and access to humanitarian assistance there," the leaders noted.
The European Union has struggled for a united response to Israel's military operation following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
There have been mounting warnings of the risk of famine in Gaza, and the leaders called for "full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into" Gaza.
The leaders were "deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza."
The bloodiest-ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas's unprecedented attacks resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Militants also seized about 250 hostages. Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.
Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel has relentlessly pounded Gaza where at least 31,988 people, most of them women and children, have been killed, the health ministry in the territory says.
The EU's 27 leaders called on Thursday for an "immediate humanitarian pause" in Gaza and urged Israel not to launch a major ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah.
"The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable cease-fire," the leaders said after meeting in Brussels, while also calling for "the...