The leaders of the 27 European Union member states, meeting at a summit in Brussels, called for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza and urged, in a joint statement, Israel not to launch a ground operation in Rafah in the southernmost part of the devastated sector. The joint statement, reported by "Wafa," affirmed that the European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that should lead to a permanent ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid.
The European leaders indicated that "over one million Palestinians are currently seeking safety and access to humanitarian assistance there." They called for "the complete, swift, safe, and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to Gaza," expressing deep concern "about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate impact on civilians, especially children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by insufficient aid entering Gaza."
