Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1510271
8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 OCTOBER 2023 ISRAEL - HAMAS WAR MORE than 5,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since Israel commenced its relentless on- slaught on the 40km-long Gaza Strip following the Hamas at- tacks on 7 October. The bombing campaign in- tended to wipe out Hamas militants has hurt and killed civilians, decimated neigh- bourhoods and destroyed ci- vilian infrastructure. Even the south of Gaza, where Palestinians have been told to move to, has not been spared. Many cannot leave Gaza City and other localities in the north of the territory sim- ply because they are too old, disabled or hospitalised. And although humanitarian aid has trickled in over the past couple of days, this has been described by UN agencies as a drop in the ocean. The effectiveness of these basic supplies is also shackled by constant bombardments and preparations for a ground in- vasion by Israeli troops which would hinder any humanitar- ian efforts. The question facing EU lead- ers meeting in a summit on Thursday is whether the bloc should align itself with a call made by UN Secretary-gen- eral Antonio Guterres for a ceasefire or at least a "tempo- rary pause". The latter is an approach favoured by Josep Borrell, the EU's High Repre- sentative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Underlying this choice is a rift at both the institution- al level and among member states. Some advocate uncon- ditional support for Israel's right to defend itself, while others are more inclined to qualify this support, particu- larly concerning the issue of collective punishment of Pal- estinians in Gaza. At the institutional level, there is a difference between the prudent approach advo- cated from the first days of the conflict by Borrell, who immediately expressed con- cern about the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, and the more unconditional support given to Israel by Commission President Ursula von der Ley- en and EU Parliament Presi- dent Roberta Metsola, during their visit to Tel Aviv days after the 7 October attacks. One risk of the latter ap- proach is that it may give Is- rael the impression that its ongoing siege of Gaza also has the seal of approval of the EU. For while Israel does not seek the EU's green light for its actions, having its seal of approval helps legitimise its actions. At the member state level, it has been reported that France, Spain, the Neth- erlands, Ireland, Slovenia, and Luxembourg have so far backed Borrell's call for a hu- manitarian pause during a meeting of foreign Ministers on Monday. Where Malta stands A press release issued by the Maltese foreign ministry af- ter the meeting largely avoids the elephant in the room by not referring to the call for a pause in hostilities but sug- gests that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is a priority for the Maltese government. According to the statement, during the meeting, Ian Borg reiterated Malta's condem- nation of the recent Hamas attacks against Israel while "underscoring Israel's right to security and self-defence in full respect of international law". Borg also called for the im- mediate release of all hostag- es and the expedient delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in Gaza to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and prevent the conflict from spilling over into the region. Borg also welcomed EU Commission's tripling of humanitarian aid to the Pal- estinians and informed the council that Malta has also doubled its assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Malta had already support- ed a UN resolution, presented last week by Brazil and vetoed by the US, calling for a pause in hostilities in an indication that Malta is receptive to the call for a temporary halt in hostilities. This sentiment was artic- ulated by Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin: "We understand Israel's need to deal with Hamas because this was an appalling attack... But the degree of suffering – innocent civilians in Gaza are suffering – it's not acceptable at all, and in our view, that's why we believe a humanitari- an pause is required, at a min- imum, to get aid and supplies in." On the other hand, Germa- ny, the Czech Republic, Aus- tria, and Italy, among others, have been skeptical about the idea, arguing that Israel The EU has been unanimous in upholding Israel's right to defend itself following Hamas's horrific rampage on 7 October. But will the bloc reach the same consensus in Thursday's EU leaders' summit in calling for a 'humanitarian pause' to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, asks JAMES DEBONO. State of disunion: Will Europe find