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NEW YORK: European Council President Antonio Costa on Monday told Arab News that “perhaps Israel doesn’t want to be stopped” in its war on Gaza, as he defended the EU’s response to the crisis and confirmed that the bloc is considering sanctions on Israeli officials.

“Sometimes I understand that everybody is asking the EU to do more than they’re asking others, because the fact is no one has stopped what Israel is doing,” Costa said. “And perhaps Israel doesn’t want to be stopped.”

The unusually direct remark came amid growing international criticism of Israel’s war and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. Costa said the EU has taken clear positions and is moving toward concrete action.

“The European Commission last week presented a proposal for sanctions on two members of the Israeli government and to suspend the trade agreement with Israel,” he added.

“This proposal is now being analyzed by the member states, and the next Foreign Affairs Minister Council will take decisions on it.”

Costa defended the EU’s role as a humanitarian actor in the region, emphasizing the bloc’s position as the primary financial backer of the Palestinian Authority.

“If there are schools working, if there are hospitals working, it’s because the EU is financing all of these,” he said.

He reiterated the EU’s condemnation of the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, and its recognition of Israel’s right to self-defense, but said current actions have “gone beyond” self-defense.

“The EU was very clear in condemning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to say that Israel can’t continue to attack civilian people, that Israel can’t continue to destroy civilian facilities like hospitals,” Costa added. “We need to stop this war, and we need to create real conditions for a two-state solution.”

The EU has faced criticism from within and beyond its borders for not taking a firmer stance on the crisis.

Costa acknowledged the challenges of forging consensus among 27 member states with divergent historical ties and political positions on the Middle East.

“To reach a common statement among 27 member states ... is something very important. We took a lot of time, but we have a common position,” he said.

This position was spelled out at a landmark conference on Palestine on Monday. Speaking at the high-level conference convened by France and ��������, Costa said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “must end.” He condemned the scale of violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

“Today in Gaza we’re facing a humanitarian disaster, cities destroyed, families shattered, famine used as a weapon of war. This disaster has been wrought by human hands. It must end,” Costa told the summit.

He reiterated the EU’s call for an immediate ceasefire, safe and unrestricted humanitarian access, and the unconditional release of all hostages. He also called on Israel to halt its illegal settlement activity.

Costa reaffirmed the EU’s deep commitment to the Palestinian people, highlighting the union’s role as the largest donor of humanitarian aid and a key supporter of the PA and Gaza reconstruction efforts.

Stressing the need for a clear path forward, he stated unequivocally that there is “no place for Hamas, no place for terrorism, no place for illegal settlements, and no place for the killing of innocent civilians” anywhere in the region.

The only viable future, he said, is one where a secure Israel and an independent, democratic Palestine exist side by side in peace. “The time for peace is now,” Costa said. “And we must rise to the occasion.”

During a working lunch with a select number of journalists, he also spoke more broadly about the current state of the UN.

Costa underlined the EU’s commitment to a strong multilateral system and to international law, particularly amid global instability.

“In this multi-crisis world, we need more than ever a strong multilateral system and to protect our international rules-based order,” he said. “There’s no real alternative to it — only chaos and war.”

He noted that the EU funds 42 percent of UN development aid and is the leading donor to agencies such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the UN Development Programme. “The EU is a staunch supporter of the UN. The UN is at the core of the system we must protect,” Costa said.