After several hours of discussion at the European Council on 26 and 27 October, the EU-27 finally reached a common position on the thorny issue of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Carefully worded, it reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself, while insisting on the need to protect civilians and ensure that humanitarian aid is sent to and received by the people of Gaza.
One could almost forget that Europe is far from presenting a united front on this conflict. While some countries, such as Germany and Austria, are unwavering in their support for the Jewish state, others, such as Ireland and Spain, seem to share more sympathy with the Palestinian population and lean towards a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the conflict. For the time being, the outcome of the conflict seems highly uncertain, as Israel intensifies its ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. According to the Gazan Ministry of Health, more than 8,300 Palestinians have already died since the start of the Israeli response to the 7 October attack by Hamas, which claimed more than 1,400 lives.
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