On August 13 (local time), EU Observer reported that 30% of European Union (EU) member states did not participate in a joint statement urging Israel to resolve the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The outlet assessed that this absence highlighted serious differences of opinion among member states regarding the response to Israel.
The eight countries that did not join the statement, which was issued the previous day in the name of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the foreign ministers of member states, were Germany, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, and Croatia. As a result, the statement was released with the participation of the remaining 19 EU countries, as well as Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
EU Observer interpreted this absence as indicating that the 'expansion of humanitarian aid to Gaza,' agreed upon last month between the EU and Israel, has effectively failed. At that time, the EU concluded that Israel had violated a cooperation agreement, hinted at the possibility of suspending trade benefits, and secured six humanitarian aid commitments from Israel. However, a month later, the situation in Gaza has not improved, and the EU also considers that Israel has not fulfilled the agreement.
Due to the wide differences in views among member states, it is difficult to make progress on further responses or discussions of sanctions. However, there are predictions that even allied countries may gradually shift their positions if Israel maintains its hardline stance. The participation of Italy, which has traditionally been pro-Israel, in this statement is particularly noteworthy.
Although Germany did not participate in the statement, it recently expressed strong concerns about Israel's plans to occupy Gaza and announced a partial suspension of military equipment exports.
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