Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

On the 469th day of the war on Gaza, Palestinians were killed and others were injured as a result of ongoing air strikes launched by the Israeli army on the Strip, despite the announcement of a "ceasefire" that is scheduled to go into effect next Sunday.

The planes launched raids on the town of Jabalia and the Nuseirat camp located in the north and center of the Strip, in conjunction with artillery shelling by the army on the area. Since the announcement of the agreement, the death toll has risen to about 90 Palestinians who were killed as a result of Israeli attacks. According to what was reported by the Euronews news website in Brussels
On the political level, the Israeli Army Radio reported that the security cabinet "the cabinet" will hold its meeting at 10 am Jerusalem time to ratify the ceasefire agreement. The radio also expected that the list of Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of the deal will be published later today.
In a related context, outgoing US President Joe Biden confirmed that the Israeli government had received his first request for a ceasefire after the army's escalation in the Philadelphia axis and the destruction of hospitals, noting that the coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu represents the most hardline government in Israel's history. The leaders of the Group of Seven countries expressed their full support for the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas and confirmed their support for this agreement, according to a statement issued in several capitals, including Brussels, the capital of the European Union. The statement stated, “This is an important development that will ensure the release of all remaining hostages; facilitate the delivery of urgent humanitarian assistance; and pave the way for civilians to return to their homes and lives and rebuild them. We thank Egypt, Qatar, and the United States for their tireless efforts in mediating these negotiations, and we call on all parties to respect the terms of the agreement. We also urge all parties to engage constructively in negotiating the subsequent stages of the agreement to help ensure its full implementation and a permanent end to hostilities.

We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas and its coordinated terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. We mourn the tens of thousands of lives lost in that brutal attack and since then and the immense suffering of Palestinians and Israelis.

We urge Iran and its proxies to refrain from any further attacks against Israel. We reaffirm our support for Israel’s security in the face of these threats.
As the ceasefire approaches, it is also crucial that we seize this opportunity to end the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, where conditions continue to deteriorate.

We call on all parties to allow safe, rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid and to ensure the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers. International humanitarian law must be respected. We reaffirm our commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance and to begin early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza with the support of the international community.

We reaffirm our support for a credible path towards peace leading to a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace, dignity and security.

As for the European role, the package pledged by the European Union yesterday includes assistance in the areas of food, healthcare and sanitation, bringing the total support provided since 2023 to €450 million, in addition to the airlift of 3,800 tonnes of aid.