It will be the first visit of the EU foreign affairs chief to Israel since his appointment four years ago.
He is chairing a meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers Monday in Brussels.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he wilL travel this week to Israel in the framework of a Middle East tour.
‘’I will travel to Israel, Palestine, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan this week to discuss humanitarian access and assistance and political issues with regional leaders,’’ he wrote on X (former Twitter).
‘’We need a political horizon looking towards the two state solution. This can only be achieved through dialogue,’’ Borrell added.
It will be the first visit of the EU foreign affairs chief to Israel since he was appointed four years ago. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visited Israel a few days after the 7th of October Hamas massacres committed in southern Israel. .
Borrell is likely to give more details about his visit later on Monday during a press conference following a meeting of the 27 EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels.
In a statement issued on Sunday on behalf of the EU, Borrell called for ‘’immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza.’’
He also reiterated EU’s position about ‘’Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law’’ and its call on Hamas ‘’for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.’’ ‘’It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is granted access to the hostages,’’ Borrell said.
He said the EU ”condemns the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields by Hamas. Civilians must be allowed to leave the combat zone.”
Here is the full text of the EU statement:
”The EU is gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The EU joins calls for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza.
In line with the European Council conclusions of 26 October, the EU re-emphasizes Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. The EU calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs. In this regard, we welcome the results of the November 9 humanitarian conference held in Paris.
The EU reiterates its call on Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is granted access to the hostages.
The EU condemns the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields by Hamas. Civilians must be allowed to leave the combat zone. These hostilities are severely impacting hospitals and taking a horrific toll on civilians and medical staff. The EU emphasizes that international humanitarian law stipulates that hospitals, medical supplies and civilians inside hospitals must be protected. Hospitals must also be supplied immediately with the most urgent medical supplies and patients that require urgent medical care need to be evacuated safely. In this context, we urge Israel to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the protection of civilians.
The EU and its member states, will continue to work closely with international partners, the UN and other agencies as well as countries in the region to provide a sustained flow of assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter.”