The S&D Group is deeply concerned about the downward spiral of the Gaza crisis, and S&D MEPs have made calls for an immediate end to hostilities.
S&D vice-president Victor Boştinaru said:
"The further escalation of this crisis can only bring more suffering to both Israelis and Palestinians. More than 70 people, including children and civilians, have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while hundreds of rockets have been fired into Israeli territory, aimed at targets as far as Tel Aviv and the north of the country. The answer to this cannot be more violence and more suffering for the civilian populations on both sides.
"Therefore, we call on Hamas and Palestinian militias to put an immediate end to the rocket attacks on Israel. At the same time, we call on Israel to fully respect its obligations under international law by avoiding the excessive use of force and protecting civilians and vital civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
"We also urge members of the UN Security Council to do their utmost at today’s emergency meeting to find an adequate response to the crisis, and we encourage key regional players, including Egypt and Jordan, to contribute to the efforts to calm the situation."
