EU top diplomat calls for civilians to be protected during visit to Israel

euronews (in English)

The European Union's top diplomat on Thursday reiterated from Israel his call for civilian lives in Gaza to be protected as he started a five-day tour of the region.

Transcript

00:00 The European Union's top diplomat, Joseph Barel, is on a tour of the Middle East, which

00:05 started in Kibbutz Biri in Israel, three kilometres from Gaza.

00:11 Here on the 7th of October, Hamas militants killed at least 130 people, including women,

00:17 children and babies.

00:19 The armed group murdered more than 1,200 people during the attack against Israel and kidnapped

00:24 at least 240 people.

00:27 Barel has met survivors of the attack and family members, accompanied by the Israeli

00:32 Foreign Minister.

00:33 "We all should be united to free Gaza from Hamas, for the security of the State of Israel,

00:44 for the people in Gaza and for the entire world.

00:50 Otherwise, Europe will be the next."

00:54 While the intense fighting against Hamas militants in Gaza is taking a heavy toll on civilians,

00:59 Barel says the EU will continue to stand by Israel's right to self-defence.

01:05 He called for Hamas to be defeated and the hostages to be freed.

01:09 But he acknowledged the militant group doesn't represent Palestinian people, whose lives,

01:14 he said, should be protected.

01:16 Barel urged unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip so that aid can get to those

01:22 who need it.

01:23 He says it includes humanitarian corridors and pauses in the fighting.

01:28 "I understand the fears and pain of the people that have been attacked, slaughtered, kidnapped.

01:36 I understand your rage.

01:41 But let me ask you not to be consumed by rage.

01:46 I think that's what the best friend of Israel can tell you.

01:51 Because what makes the difference between a civilised society and a terrorist group

01:59 is the respect for human life."

02:03 Barel's diplomatic mission continues in the occupied West Bank.

02:08 He'll also travel to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan for talks about humanitarian

02:14 assistance.

02:16 The President of the European Commission will visit Egypt and Jordan this weekend.

02:20 [SWOOSH]

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