EU Parliament Adopts Ceasefire Resolution for Gaza. Austria and Czechia Voted Against

European lawmakers on Thursday adopted a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in Israel’s war against Hamas, on the condition that the Palestinian militant group in Gaza be dismantled and that all hostages it holds be released.

The conflict has divided European Union countries and political groups at the legislature, and reaching a consensus on the wording of the resolution was not an easy task.

The original text underlined the need for a permanent cease-fire. It was adopted after an amendment tabled by conservative lawmakers was passed, insisting that Hamas needed to be dismantled for a cease-fire to happen and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

“Sustainable peace cannot exist as long as Hamas and other terrorist groups hijack the Palestinian cause and threaten the existence of Israel, the only democracy in the region,” Antonio López-Istúriz, an EPP lawmaker, said at the plenary.

Responding to the resolution, a representative of the Israeli mission to the EU told Euronews that it shows the Parliament “has an understanding of the cause of the war and the means to end it.”

“We are pleased that the resolution states clearly that a ceasefire is provided upon the unconditional release of all hostages and the dismantling of the terrorist organization Hamas,” the representative added.

EU lawmakers also condemned Israel’s “disproportionate” military response in Gaza and supported a European initiative to resume the so-called two-state solution, a long-term diplomatic solution which would secure statehood for the Palestinians.

The European Council, which represents the bloc’s 27 member states, has not yet unanimously agreed to call for a ceasefire, despite pleas from countries such as Belgium, Ireland and Spain. So far, their official line is “humanitarian pauses and corridors,” a wording that implies a temporary, rather than continued, interruption of hostilities.

 

VOTED AGAINST:
Austria
Czech Republic

ABSTAIN:
Germany
Hungary
Italy
Lithuania
Netherlands
Romania
Slovakia
Sweden

FOR:
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Greece
Ireland
Latvia
Luxembourg
Malta
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
Spain