Latvia backs humanitarian pauses in Gaza instead of cease-fire, claiming it would 'benefit' Hamas

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The Latvian foreign minister on Monday voiced support for humanitarian pauses in Gaza instead of a cease-fire, claiming it would " strongly benefit" Hamas.

Noting that a pause would stop military activity so that aid can move back and forth, hostages could be freed or people could leave combat zones, Krisjanis Karins said: "A cease-fire is something completely different."

"In my view, that would strongly benefit the terrorist Hamas, they could regroup. And I don't think that's in Europe's interests," Karins said ahead of a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

He, however, underlined the importance of having pauses in the fighting to "make the humanitarian supplies, the logistics possible, as well as getting the hostages out of Gaza."

Karins also mentioned the need for moving towards a two-state solution, and said: "As Europeans we need to put our combined energies together is to work with Israel, with the Palestinians on a two-state solution, to defuse the situation ... and actually go for long term stability."

Israel has been carrying out relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip -- including on hospitals, residences, and houses of worship -- since the Palestinian group Hamas launched a cross-border attack last month.

The attacks have killed over 11,000 Palestinians, including more than 8,000 women and children. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200 after a downward revision.