Amid the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip for the past nine months, the European Union has renewed its warnings that the conflict may last longer. The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, indicated that the Gaza war is likely to prolong, emphasizing that what is happening in the West Bank is also dangerous and a painful test for international law.
In an interview with Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Tuesday, he stated that Israel is systematically working to annex the West Bank piece by piece, stressing that the developments there will not lead to peace but rather the opposite.
Regarding ceasefire phases, he confirmed that "Gaza cannot be allowed to turn into a wreckage and become another Somalia." He emphasized that EU countries are determined to cooperate with Arab partners to end the war in the devastated Palestinian territory and to move towards implementing a two-state solution.
He also clarified that the EU is working with its allies on three interconnected phases to achieve a ceasefire and implement the two-state solution, noting that the first phase begins with a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the entry of aid into Gaza. The second phase, according to Borrell, involves ensuring the Palestinian Authority's security in Gaza and providing essential services to Palestinians in the sector.
Borrell has repeatedly warned in recent times about the potential for the war in Gaza to expand further and become more dangerous, as well as drawing attention to the rising arrests and Israeli incursions in the West Bank.
