EU foreign ministers are set to hold urgent discussions concerning the Israel-Gaza situation, according to the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. Borrell announced the emergency meeting on social media, which will take place on Tuesday. Notably, some EU foreign ministers are presently engaged in planned discussions with Gulf states in Oman. The EU talks will be conducted in a hybrid format, combining video and in-person participation to accommodate ministers not present in Muscat.
Simultaneously, Egypt has been actively communicating with Israel and Hamas in an effort to prevent further escalation of hostilities and ensure the well-being of Israelis who have been taken hostage by Palestinian militants. Egyptian security sources emphasized the importance of Israeli restraint and the humane treatment of captives by Hamas to facilitate de-escalation, despite the challenging mediation conditions due to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a significant toll, with more than 700 Israelis killed and over 100 kidnapped, raising concerns about a potential wider regional escalation. In Gaza, Israel’s retaliatory bombing campaign has led to the death of 493 people, as reported by Palestinian officials.
