European Union Supports Ceasefire And Release Of Hostages In Gaza: War Must End Now

JAKARTA - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed his support for the roadmap for the "eternal ceasefire and release of hostages" announced by United States President Joe Biden.

"All of our support for the @POTUS Biden roadmap for the eternal ceasefire and the release of hostages leading to a permanent cessation of hostilities, IDF withdrawal and start of reconstruction efforts," Borrell said on platform X, quoted by Antara, Saturday, June 1.

"The war must end now," he said in the post.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who has just made a visit to the White House, through X also stressed that "it is our job to end the cycle of violence in the Middle East."

By stating that he has discussed global issues with Biden, De Croo said: "In today's world we need a strong ally... Together with America we will make sure Ukraine wins."

Biden previously said Israel had given the Palestinian Hamas group a three-stage deal that would end all hostilities in the trapped Gaza Strip and ensure the release of hostages who continue to be held in Gaza.

US President asked Hamas to accept the agreement and urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent pressure from members of his government's coalition opposing the plan.

More than 36 thousand Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Israel started its war nearly eight months ago, most of whom were women and children, and more than 82 thousand others were injured, according to local health authorities.

The attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, killed less than 1,200 people.

Most of Gaza's territory is in ruins amid an Israeli blockade that crippled food, clean water, and medicines.

Israel is accused of committing genocide in the International Court (ICJ), which in its latest ruling ordered Tel Aviv to immediately stop its operations in Rafah, where more than one million Palestinians seek refuge from war.