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The EU fears that the conflict in Gaza could spread throughout the region

2024-02-03 19:49:03, Kosova & Bota CNA

The European Union has expressed concern about reports that the Israeli army intends to continue the battle against Hamas militants in the town of Rafah, located on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. Over 1 million Palestinians have moved to this city to escape the fighting. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday that the conflict was likely to spread across the region if a ceasefire was not reached.

In the city of Rafah, located on the border between Gaza and Egypt, more than 1 million people have been displaced in an attempt to escape the fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas militants.

European Union leaders expressed concern over the possibility of conflict spreading amid a tense situation in the region also from recent US airstrikes against dozens of targets in Iraq and Syria, in response to the killing of three US soldiers.

"Israel is continuing its military activity in the south, pushing people towards the Egyptian border. There are 1 million people who have been progressively displaced towards the Egyptian border. They said this would be a safe area. But in fact, what we are seeing is that the bombings are affecting the civilian population and this is creating a very serious situation," said Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief.

The EU foreign policy chief's statements followed a warning issued on Thursday by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. He said that after Israeli troops "clear the southern city of Khan Younis, from where tens of thousands of people have fled, they will go to Rafah." But Mr. Gallant did not give a time frame for when the operation would begin there.

Such an offensive could push refugees toward Egypt, undermining Israel's peace deal with the country and further angering Washington. The offensive could also damage slow-moving peace talks with Hamas and complicate efforts to free scores of Israelis held hostage by the militant group after the Oct. 7 terror attack.

The prospect of a ground war in Rafah has raised fears for the future of the civilian population that has been displaced there.

Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU, warned of "a real risk of the conflict spreading".

"We are calling for restraint. Violence is never an answer. We heard this morning and last night, of retaliatory airstrikes by the United States against Iranian targets in Iraq and Syria. This is of great concern. We are we demand restraint, dialogue and diplomatic choices is the only way we can calm the situation in the Middle East", she declared.

Referring to recent US attacks in the region, the Foreign Minister of Poland, a staunch ally of Washington, said the US response was more than justified.

"What I can tell you is that the groups that are supported by Iran have been playing with fire for months and years and now this fire is burning them," declared Mr. Radek Sikorski./ VOA