Foreign ministers from 26 European Union member countries have issued a collective statement calling for a ceasefire, in response to Israel’s evacuation directive for the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The ministers urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the ongoing attack. The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, emphasised that Israel should cease its ground offensive in Rafah, stressing the need for action from both the EU and the international community to prevent further escalation.
Borrell emphasised that Israel’s evacuation order for civilians in Rafah suggests an escalation leading to heightened conflict and a humanitarian crisis.
Early Tuesday, Borrell voiced his concern over the situation in Rafah, saying the Israeli military offensive will again cause a great many civilian casualties.
“The Rafah offensive has started again, in spite of all the requests of the international community, the US, the European Union member states, everybody asking (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu not to attack,” he said in Brussels.