Thursday

28th Mar 2024

EU pledges navy patrols to prevent Gaza smuggling

European Union states have engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity following the announcement of a ceasefire by Israel and Hamas declaring its own truce over the weekend, with the EU's big three pledging naval support to prevent the delivery of weapons into Gaza.

On Saturday (17 January) at midnight, Tel Aviv declared a unilateral ceasefire, saying its objectives of degrading Hamas' ability to fire rockets into Israel had been achieved.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • UN building shelled by Israel: Many civilians sought shelter in UN facilities (Photo: Oxfam)

Hamas on Sunday followed with an announcement of a truce, giving Israel seven days to leave the occupied territory and open all border crossings to permit the entry of humanitarian aid and basic goods.

Six EU leaders - the chiefs of France, Germany and the UK, alongside the Italian, Spanish and Czech prime ministers - then descended upon Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt for a summit to discuss the crisis, where they committed to work to prevent arms smuggling, a key demand of Israel.

Specifically, they offered troops and technological assistance in co-operation with the US and Egypt to execute the task.

Neither Israel nor the governors of Gaza attended the meeting, but the leaders subsequently met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

Ahead of the summit, France, Germany and the UK furthermore offered support of naval patrols to monitor against weapons shipments, according to Reuters.

The leaders also called on Israel to lift the blockade.

"Israel should state immediately and clearly that if rocket fire will stop, the Israeli army will leave Gaza. There is no other solution to achieve peace," said French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Announcing an additional €22m (£20m) in humanitarian aid to Gaza, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown criticised Israel for the extreme violence of its offensive.

"We are yet to discover the full scale of the appalling suffering," he said, according to the Guardian. "But what is already clear is that too many innocent civilians, including hundreds of children, have been killed."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi meanwhile offered support to the Jewish state, pointing out that he was proud to have been the one to push for the inclusion of Hamas on the EU's terror list, according to Israeli daily Haaretz, adding that he will work to see Israel welcomed as a member of the European Union.

"When I heard about the rocket fire at Israel, I felt that it was a danger to Italy, and to the entire West," the paper reports the Italian leader as saying.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also backed the provision of technical and training assistance to prevent arms deliveries via the Sinai peninsula, saying: "The two-state solution is the sole possibility [for peace]."

The Czech Republic, currently chairing the EU's six-month rotating presidency, also welcomed the ceasefire in a statement.

"The priority now is to ensure that no more civilians die as a result of this conflict. It is vital, therefore, that all required humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel and medical aid, is freely and rapidly delivered into, and distributed within Gaza," it read, calling for a renewal of the peace process.

"The EU stands ready to help establish an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security," it continued.

The EU's executive body, the commission, expressed relief at the apparent end of the fighting.

"It was indispensable to have a ceasefire," said external relations commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

"I call on Hamas to refrain from any violence in order to allow for an end to the terrible human suffering. It should also allow the EU and other donors to deliver much needed humanitarian assistance."

"Our priority is a durable peace. I hope we will soon see the regular opening of the Gaza crossings and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Gaza strip," she added.

The peace nevertheless remains fragile. Some 20 rockets were fired across the border following the Israeli ceasefire had been announced, while Israel responded with additional bombing. It is unclear who perpetrated the rocket barrage.

Over 1,300 Palestinians were killed during the three-week war, mostly civilians, including hundreds of children, according to Gaza medical sources. A total of 13 Israelis were killed.

US and EU breaking taboos to restrain Israel

The US abstained and all EU states on the UN Security Council backed a call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as Europe prepares to also blacklist extremist Israeli settlers.

EU warns Russia over Moscow terror attacks

Europe has warned Russia not to use the weekend's terror attacks in Moscow as a pretext to escalate its war in Ukraine and crackdown on internal dissent.

EU summit risks failing Gaza once again, Ireland warns

Austrians and Czechs might block an EU statement calling for an Israeli ceasefire, Ireland warned, as leaders met in Brussels amid starvation in Gaza. Israel's conduct of the war meant it had "squandered the support they had", Leo Varadkar said.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  2. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  3. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  4. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  5. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult
  6. EU unveils plan to create a European cross-border degree
  7. How migrants risk becoming drug addicts along Balkan route
  8. 2024: A Space Odyssey — why the galaxy needs regulating

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  2. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries
  3. European Citizen's InitiativeThe European Commission launches the ‘ImagineEU’ competition for secondary school students in the EU.
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  5. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  6. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us