Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Josep Borrell underlined EU consensus on supporting a Palestinian State, condemned Hamas, and described Gaza’s dire conditions.
Following the Ministerial meeting on “Implementing the Two-State Solution,” High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell addressed the press, explaining his role as an observer on behalf of the European Union. He clarified that the EU holds varied positions on the recognition of Palestine as a state, which remains a matter of national discretion for individual member states—some have recognized it, while others have not.
Why Is the Two-State Solution Still a Priority for the EU?
He emphasized that there is consensus within the EU on the importance of supporting a solution that involves the establishment of a Palestinian State. He noted that the State of Israel already exists as a democratic and economically powerful nation with significant military capabilities.
He also mentioned that the meeting was intended to sustain the possibility of a two-state solution. However, he acknowledged that many steps are required to make this happen, starting with the ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire. According to Borrell, the process has been drawn out and there is little hope for a quick resolution based on the current information. Despite this, he emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza and to advocate for the release of hostages. He also highlighted the need to keep a political solution in view, although he noted that the current Israeli government rejects this approach.
What Are the Challenges to Reaching a Cease-Fire in Gaza?
He further stated that the situation in the Middle East is at a critical point, though he refrained from calling it more serious than it already is, given the gravity of the current conditions in Gaza. Borrell noted that while regional spillover remains a possibility, the focus should be on the immediate crisis. He strongly condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks and emphasized the need to continue denouncing them. However, he also remarked that the situation in Gaza is a horror that cannot be justified by the previous actions of Hamas, indicating that the current suffering is not warranted by past events.
He mentioned that he had visited a closed border post at Rafah, where negotiations are ongoing regarding the possibility of reopening it with the support of the mission that has been stationed at the border for over 20 years.
He noted the difference between hearing about the situation and witnessing it firsthand. While it is one thing to be informed about the large number of trucks waiting, it is quite another to see the endless line of over 1,400 trucks on both sides of the road, sometimes waiting for weeks to cross.
