The European Union (EU) foreign ministers, yesterday, pressed Israel for an eventual two-States solution with the Palestinians after the war in Gaza, at meetings with the top diplomats from the two sides and key Arab States in Brussels.
The surprise Hamas attack on October 7 on Israel and the subsequent devastating military response from Israel has plunged the Middle East into fresh turmoil and sparked fears of a broader conflict.
But while the bloodshed appears to have driven a long-term solution further out of sight, EU officials insist the time is now to talk about finally resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The 27 EU ministers met first with Israels Foreign Minister, Israel Katz before they were due to sit down separately with the Palestinian Authoritys top diplomat, Riyad al-Maliki. The foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia were also holding talks with the European ministers.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has drawn condemnation from the United Nations (UN), and defied key backer the United States by rejecting calls for a Palestinian State.
Israels assault on Gaza has left over 25,000 Palestinians dead, the vast majority women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Netanyahu has vowed complete victory over Hamas after the attacks by the Islamist movements fighters on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally, based on official Israeli figures.
Hamas militants also seized about 250 hostages, and Israel says around 132 remain in besieged Gaza.
EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell told Israel that peace and stability cannot be built only by military means. Which are the other solutions they have in mind? To make all the Palestinians leave? To kill all of them? Borrell said.
Katz ignored questions from journalists over a future two-State solution and said Israel was focused now on returning the hostages and ensuring its own security.
The EU has struggled for a united stance on the conflict in Gaza as staunch backers of Israel such as Germany have rejected demands for an immediate ceasefire made by the likes of Spain and Ireland. But there is overall backing in the bloc for a two-States solution.
Jordans Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, said Israels continuation of measures to undermine the two-States solution is dooming the future of the region to more conflicts and more war.
The whole world is saying the only way out of this misery is the two-States solution. So, the party whos standing against the rights of all peoples of the region, including Israelis, to have peace cannot just be left unaccountable, he said.
