Very worried about Rafah
EU states and the USA demand a ceasefire from Israel and Hamas
February 20, 2024, 1:43 a.m
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Israel’s government is determined to continue the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in Rafah, where well over a million Palestinians have found refuge. International pressure is growing. The EU states are pushing for a ceasefire, the USA is introducing a corresponding draft resolution to the UN Security Council.
Germany and 25 other EU states are calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza war. This should lead to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of the hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid, according to a statement published after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.
The decision of the International Court of Justice of January 26th is also mentioned as the background to the demand. It gave Israel a binding mandate under international law to do everything possible to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip. “We reiterate the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
The foreign ministers of the 26 EU member states also call on Israel not to take military action in Rafah, in the far south of the Gaza Strip, that would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and impede the urgently needed provision of basic services humanitarian aid would prevent. More than a million civilians currently live in the city – most of them refugees from other parts of the Gaza Strip.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock took part in the EU meeting in Brussels on behalf of Germany. The only country that did not want to support the joint appeal was Hungary, according to diplomatic sources. The country is considered particularly Israel-friendly in the EU.
USA formulates draft resolution
Meanwhile, it is becoming apparent that the USA, as Israel’s most important international ally, is further distancing itself from military operations in the south of the Gaza Strip. A draft resolution for the UN Security Council states that Israel’s planned ground offensive into the city of Rafah “would lead to further harm to civilians and their further displacement, possibly to neighboring countries.” Therefore, “such a large-scale ground offensive should not be carried out under the current circumstances.” The text also states that a “temporary ceasefire in Gaza is needed as soon as possible.”
It is still unclear whether the draft will be put to a vote in the most powerful UN body as a countertext to a draft resolution from Algeria. It is also quite possible that one of the other permanent members of the Council will veto the text in the event of a vote. Nevertheless, the wording of the American proposal appears to reflect the US government’s growing unease with Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
Most recently, US President Joe Biden had already warned Israel: He was firmly convinced that there had to be “a temporary ceasefire” to free the hostages. He expects “that the Israelis will not carry out a massive ground offensive in the meantime.” Israel’s army wants to present a detailed plan for the operation in Rafah to the war cabinet shortly, the “Times of Israel” reported at the weekend. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that the fight against Hamas is also being waged in Rafah, where around 1.4 million Palestinians have found refuge. The army will move in even if there is an agreement to release the Israeli hostages, he said last Saturday.