By Andrew Gray
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Foreign ministers from the European Union will confront their divisions over the war in Gaza on Saturday after the bloc’s humanitarian aid chief called on them to “find a strong voice that reflects our values and principles.”
Ministers from the EU’s 27 member countries will discuss the war – launched in response to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas – at a meeting in the Danish capital Copenhagen.
Many EU governments have sharply criticised Israel’s conduct of the war, particularly over the deaths of civilians and restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid.
The outcry intensified after a global hunger monitor that works with the United Nations and major aid agencies said last week it had determined there was famine in Gaza – a finding rejected by Israel.
But EU members have been divided over a common response, with some calling for economic measures to pressure Israel and others stressing a desire to maintain dialogue.
The EU’s executive body proposed last month to curb Israeli access to an EU research-funding programme but the proposal has so far not found enough support from member countries to pass.
Countries including France, the Netherlands, Spain and Ireland have shown support for the proposal but others such as Germany and Italy have not backed it so far, diplomats say.
Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for crisis management who oversees EU humanitarian aid, said it was “time for the EU to find a collective voice on Gaza”.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels this week, she declined to specify what action she thought should be taken but made clear she wanted more pressure on Israel.
“What is happening there is haunting me and should haunt all of us,” she said of Gaza. “Because this is a tragedy. And we will be judged by history.”
Israel has rejected criticism of its conduct of the war and says its military action is necessary to defeat Hamas.
Ministers will air their views at the Copenhagen meeting but are not expected to reach any decisions.
They are also expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the future of some 210 billion euros ($245.85 billion) in Russian assets frozen in the EU under sanctions imposed on Moscow.
($1 = 0.8542 euros)
(Reporting by Andrew Gray; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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