Gaza’s Humanitarian Situation ‘Catastrophic’: European Council President

European Council President António Costa has described the humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip as “catastrophic” and strongly condemned the ongoing human rights violations there.This information was reported by Anadolu Agency on Friday (27 June).While speaking at a summit of European Union heads of state in Brussels on Thursday, Costa said,> “Human rights are being grossly violated in Gaza. Our review of the joint agreements with Israel has made it clear that this situation is absolutely unacceptable.”He stated that EU foreign ministers are now discussing the next steps in response to the crisis. However, he also stressed the need for an “open dialogue” with Israel.At the summit, Costa highlighted the need for a more integrated European defense structure, saying,> “We don’t need every member state to build the same defense capabilities. Instead, we need efficiency and fairness.”He directly linked security relations with Ukraine to Europe’s own security, emphasizing that it is now crucial to support Ukraine and advance its EU membership process.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also expressed grave concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. She said,> “The situation in Gaza is terrible and beyond endurance. Immediate humanitarian assistance must reach there.”She noted that progress is being made in ongoing trade talks between the EU and the United States. However, the EU is also preparing an “equilibrium restoration list” if negotiations fail. Von der Leyen said,> “We are ready for an agreement. But if a satisfactory solution is not reached, we are prepared to take all necessary steps to protect European interests.”In its declaration, the European Council also expressed concern over the situation in Libya and its potential impact on European security and migration. It specifically called the Turkey-Libya maritime boundary agreement inconsistent with international maritime law.