EU calls on Hamas to disarm, condemns use of civilians as shields

[shira]

Israel received a strong back-wind from an unlikely source on Tuesday, when the EU issued a statement strongly denouncing Hamas and condemning their use of civilians as human shields.

The EU's foreign ministers, following a monthly meeting in Brussels, issued a statement on the Middle East condemning “the indiscriminate firing of rockets into Israel by Hamas and militant groups in the Gaza Strip, directly harming civilians. These are criminal and unjustifiable. The statement also called on Hamas to immediately put an end to its rocket attacks, and to renounce violence. “All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm. The EU strongly condemns calls on the civilian population of Gaza to provide themselves as human shields. “ Regarding civilian losses inside Gaza Strip, the statement “condemns the loss of hundreds of civilian lives, among them many women and children.”

“While recognizing Israel's legitimate right to defend itself against any attacks, the EU underlines that the Israeli military operation must be proportionate and in line with international humanitarian law,” the statement read. The statement said the EU was “particularly appalled by the human cost” of the operation in Shejaia, and is “deeply concerned at the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation.” The foreign ministers called on all sides to immediately implement a cease fire.

One senior diplomatic official said that Israel was pleased with the statement, even though after dealing with the Gaza situation it went on to repeat the EU's well-known position regarding a two state solution, settlements and negotiations.

http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/EU-calls-on-Hamas-to-disarm-condemns-use-of-civilians-as-shields-368509

[Petrushka]

1. Thank you for the link. (n/t)

[geek tragedy]

2. Very, very telling reaction

One senior diplomatic official said that Israel was pleased with the statement, even though after dealing with the Gaza situation it went on to repeat the EU's well-known position regarding a two state solution, settlements and negotiations.

[shira]

3. Given the current war, talks of peace, settlements, & negotiations is silly noise.

Hamas is part of the negotiation team now. Negotiations including Hamas given the current war is absurd as Hamas wants all Jews gone or dead.

Those pushing for immediate talks b/w Hamas and Israel cannot be taken seriously right now.

[bemildred]

4. End game

International pressure is mounting on Hamas and Israel to accept a cease-fire. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry are in the region, aiming to put a stop to the current violence.

With a death toll of over two dozen IDF soldiers, over a hundred Hamas terrorists and hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the first two weeks of Operation Protective Edge, the international momentum for a cease-fire is clearly going to grow.

But unless a cease-fire plan presented by Ban or Kerry includes a mechanism that leads to the demilitarization of Gaza and its deadly minders Hamas, Israel will justifiably be reluctant to accept.

The IDF is in the middle of a large ground operation that has set as its goal the destruction of Hamas’s tunnels.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/End-game-368511

[Baclava]

5. "All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm"

yeah, like that's going to happen - we just sent them $50M to buy more rockets