Top European Union foreign policy chief, Jaka Kallas, has called for an end to the newly resumed Israeli attacks in Gaza. Speaking at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday (March 23) alongside Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, he made the appeal.
After a 15-month military operation in Gaza, Israel agreed to a ceasefire on January 19 under pressure from the United States and the international community. However, once the first phase of the ceasefire ended, the issue of withdrawing troops from Gaza led to disagreements with Hamas, prompting the IDF to resume airstrikes on March 18. The renewed strikes, which began on Tuesday, have reportedly killed several dozen Hamas members according to the Israeli military.
At a joint press conference in Cairo with Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Kallas said, “We strongly oppose Israel’s renewed war, which has resulted in massive loss of life in Gaza. The killing must stop. In a new war, both sides lose.”
He continued, “It is very clear from the EU’s perspective that Hamas must fully release all hostages and that Israel must completely restore humanitarian aid to Gaza, and both sides should restart negotiations.”
Kallas’s team later confirmed that he had left Egypt and arrived in Israel.
On Monday, during discussions in the region and Palestinian areas, he is expected to urgently call for the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement. His office also mentioned that he would address the importance of uninterrupted delivery and sustainable distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Kallas is scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and opposition leader Yair Lapid. However, he will not meet with the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Additionally, in the occupied West Bank, Kallas is expected to hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
Meanwhile, the United Nations stated on Friday that after six weeks of ceasefire, Gaza is now facing a ‘nightmare’ since the resumption of Israel’s military operations.