Source: European Parliament
The EU is deeply alarmed by the situation in the Middle East. The EU has consistently called on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint, put an end to all hostilities immediately and fully abide by international law, including international humanitarian law[1].
The EU welcomes the ceasefire agreements reached between Israel and Lebanon on 27 November 2024 and between Israel and Hamas on 19 January 2025.
The EU is constantly monitoring the humanitarian and human rights situation in the Middle East. Since the onset of the crisis in Gaza, the EU has deployed all available humanitarian instruments to ease the suffering of Palestinians, providing a total of EUR 330 million in aid, operated a humanitarian air bridge with 65 flights, and activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism[2] for medical evacuations.
The EU increased its humanitarian aid to Lebanon by EUR 40 million, bringing the total to over EUR 104 million for 2024. The EU also continues to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East with EUR 82 million and a top of EUR 10 million disbursed in 2024.
The EU raises its concerns about the human rights’ situation at bilateral and multilateral level. The EU deplores the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, especially women and children.
The EU remains committed to ending impunity and ensuring accountability for all violations of international law. The EU is active in upholding international justice, including supporting the International Criminal Court as an independent and impartial judicial body.
The EU is engaging with its partners to revitalise a political horizon and is ready to contribute to reviving a political process, on the basis of the two-state solution premise.