Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 43 Member States of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) gathered in Barcelona, Spain to discuss the most pressing regional challenges, notably the alarming situation in the Middle East.
Speaking at the Forum, European Union’s top diplomat Josep Borrell condemned the Israeli army for its attack on UNIFIL in Lebanon.
“To say that there are attacks against UNIFIL without saying who is doing them is to hide part of the truth, and who is doing them is the Israeli army, and therefore the Israeli army must be condemned” Borrell stressed.
He also said he would ask the European Union to establish sanctions against those responsible for Israeli settlers in the West Bank, as well as for two members of the Israeli government, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir.
On the other hand, Jose Manuel Albares, Spain’s foreign minister said his country has renewed its commitment to UNRWA, a United Nations organisation that is indispensable for millions of Palestinian refugees in the region.
“The international humanitarian law was born of the suffering of Europe. So it is imperative that Europe stands on the side of international law and prevent its violations,” added Ayman Safadi, Jordanian foreign minister.
Finally, it was Nasser Kamel, the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean who reminded the paradigm of the two-state solution.
“We all know the parameters of the remedy are based on a two-state solution and on the right of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination.”
Netanyahu focuses on ‘victory’
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended on Monday a memorial service in Jerusalem for fallen soldiers and civilians killed during the war since October 7.
“We are not giving up on the mission of victory, and a central component of the mission of victory is the return of all our hostages, both the living and the dead, back home to Israel,” said Netanyahu, disregarding Borrell’s statements.
Borrell calls for the ease of tensions in the region
Following Israel’s retaliatory attacks on Iran over the weekend, Borrell also stressed the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.
These airstrikes on Saturday marked the first time that Israel has openly attacked Iran.
In addition, Borrell highlighted the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, which he described as the most severe since World War II.
