EU

EU leaders call for ‘immediate humanitarian pause’ in Gaza

The statement comes just hours after the US said it had submitted a draft UN resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire

European Council president Charles Michel said the Gaza ceasefire call ‘took time’ but showed EU unity. Photo: Dario Pignatelli/European Union

EU leaders have called for an “immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza after month of wrangling over language.

They also urged the Israeli government against undertaking a ground offensive in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, where over a million Palestinians are sheltering.

The deal was done despite initial opposition from Austria and the Czech Republic, and was unlocked after US secretary of state Antony Blinken announced that he had submitted ...