Conflicts & War

European leaders call for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza as death toll crosses 6,500

Brussels, Oct 25 (EFE).- European Union leaders plan to call for a “humanitarian pause” so that aid from the Rafah crossing to the Gaza Strip can reach civilians as the death toll – according to the Palestinian authorities – crossed 6,500.

The European Council expresses its grave concern at the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and (…) a humanitarian pause, according to a draft of the summit meeting to be held later this week in Brussels.

The EU states condemn the violence against civilians and assure to work with its partners in the region to provide them with necessary aid, according to the document accessed by EFE.

The call for a humanitarian pause is a new addition to the declaration that European leaders agreed on Oct. 15, a week after Hamas attacked Israel.

At least 6,546 Palestinians have been killed and 17,439 injured by Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, in retaliation for the attack by the Islamist group Hamas on Israel on October 7, which left more than 1,400 dead.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said Wednesday that 2,704 children, 1,584 women and 364 elderly people were among the dead.

In the last few hours alone, at least 756 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 344 children and teenagers, while another 1,142 have been injured.

Hamas political office member Ezat al-Sharq said in a statement that Israel has been destroying infrastructure, bombing hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and civilian government institutions, cutting off water, electricity and the internet.

The European leaders, in the meantime, will condemn Hamas’ terrorist attack and recognize Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law.

They are also expected to ask the Palestinian militia group to release all hostages, who number more than 200.

In addition to the war in the Middle East, European leaders are to underline their military and financial aid to Ukraine for “as long as it takes” to defend itself against Russia. EFE

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