Josep Borrell, the European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called for a halt in arms sales to Israel in an effort to stop the ongoing bombings in the Palestinian Gaza Strip.
Borrell made this statement ahead of his meeting with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.
During a press briefing, Borrell emphasized that Israeli bombings would continue until their ammunition supplies were depleted.
He pointed out that the EU is “divided” over adopting a unified stance against the recent developments in the Middle East, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Addressing EU leaders, Borrell expressed his concerns about the situation in Gaza: “Some leaders are saying there are too many deaths in Gaza, and the question we should ask is: How many people need to die? Do we need to wait for 50,000 people to die before we take necessary actions to prevent more?”
Regarding the potential recognition of a Palestinian state by some EU countries, Borrell remarked, “If a few countries take this step, I am confident that more will follow.”
It is noted that Ireland, Slovenia, Malta, and Norway support the initiative to recognize the Palestinian state, a movement led by Spain.
Universities in Spain announced their readiness to sever connections with any Israeli academic institutions that do not explicitly commit to peace amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
This wave of student protests advocating for an end to the violence in Gaza and for breaking ties with Israel has accelerated throughout Western Europe, inspired by similar demonstrations on US college campuses.
