EU Council calls for humanitarian corridor, pause in Mideast conflict

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The EU Council on Friday called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor in the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict, which is about to enter its third week.

"We call for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor and a humanitarian pause," EU Council President Charles Michel told reporters on the sidelines of a summit in Brussels.

"We expressed a united, clear, and firm position," Michel told a joint news conference alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stressing the importance of urgently delivering humanitarian aid to those in need in the region.

"We are much mobilized … to engage the political process, to relaunch the peace and security process, and to ensure that an international conference is soon organized, as was suggested by (Spanish) Prime Minister (Pedro) Sanchez yesterday," he added.

- War in Ukraine

Ursula von der Leyen said that even amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the EU remains focused on supporting Ukraine, whose war recently crossed the 600-day mark.

"We will continue delivering the much-needed weapons and ammunition. We will continue providing the much-needed financial relief," she added, also announcing that the bloc’s member states are preparing a 12th package of sanctions on Russia.

- Mideast conflict

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Over 8,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.