European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, urges Israel's government to reassess and curtail the intensification of its military activities or operations. - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calls for a reevaluation of the Israeli government's plan to extend military deployment.
The Israeli army currently controls 75 percent of the Gaza Strip, with plans to further expand military operations in the area, sparking sharp criticism both within Israel and internationally.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has urged Israel to reconsider its decision, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian aid access to Gaza. She condemned the Israeli government's plan, stating that it escalates the already dire humanitarian crisis and could lead to more casualties.
Von der Leyen expressed particular concern over the Israeli Security Cabinet's approval to occupy Gaza City and expand ground incursions. She highlighted the devastating toll on civilians, including thousands killed and displaced, and stressed that humanitarian aid must be delivered immediately without obstruction to alleviate suffering on the ground.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has responded to the plan by announcing a partial halt to arms deliveries to Israel. He cited doubts about the effectiveness of Israel’s military plan and its humanitarian consequences. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also condemned the offensive as wrong and likely to cause more bloodshed.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the plan as a dangerous escalation with catastrophic consequences. However, some international figures, such as the US Ambassador to Israel, have defended the Israeli military plan as necessary to defeat Hamas, a political group in Gaza.
In summary, European leaders are advocating for de-escalation, calling for immediate humanitarian relief access, a ceasefire, and reassessment of the military strategy to avoid further loss of civilian lives amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority, led by various international figures including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, have condemned the Israeli government's plan to further expand military operations in Gaza, as it escalates the existing humanitarian crisis, could lead to more casualties, and poses a critical threat to the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid. This criticism, put forth by European leaders, underscores the importance of politics and general news, taking into account global war-and-conflicts, particularly the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, in the European Union's foreign policy discussions.