The 27 European Union nations have jointly condemned the Islamic terror group Hamas for using hospitals and civilians as human shields in the war against Israel.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that at the same time, the bloc asked Israel “for maximum restraint in targeting in order to avoid human casualties.”
At a meeting of the bloc’s foreign affairs ministers, Borrell issued a statement on behalf of the 27 nations as a show of unity following weeks of often contrasting statements on how the group should address the Israel-Hamas war.
They also reiterated their “call on Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross is granted access to the hostages.”
“Hamas is unfortunately using civilian infrastructure and civilians as shields against the Israel Defense Forces. So the situation (is) absolutely not black and white,” Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins said.
Israel says Hamas shields itself among civilians in hospitals, and that Gaza City’s largest Shifa Hospital is a prime example of that. Israel further says that the militants have a command center in and beneath the medical compound.
