In an interview with RTL on Friday, Asselborn took stock of the situation thus: “As in 2014, Israel reacts with massive airstrikes. The results are known: eight dead among the Israelis, more than 100 dead in Gaza. Eight too many, and 100 too many.”
The attacks by the Israeli army have been directed at Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups, focusing mainly on the densely populated Gaza Strip and resulting in the deaths of many civilians, while militant groups in Palestine have launched around 1,800 rockets towards Israel this week.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu appears keen to continue with the attacks, while Asselborn appealed for peace. The Luxembourgish minister said a solution must be found quickly to avert the danger of a civil war outbreak between Israel and Palestine. Another synagogue was set on fire in the city of Lod overnight from Thursday to Friday, and fighting between Jewish and Arab Israelis was also reported, while civilians and children in particular continue to suffer.
Asselborn looked back at what he called “serious developments” in the perpetual conflict, such as the cancellation of Palestinian elections, and the expulsion of Palestinians, who lived for generations in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah, at the hands of Israeli settlers. He added that “Palestinians fear they will no longer be tolerated in East Jerusalem”.
While 14,000 reservists have been mobilised by the Israeli army, near the border with the Gaza Strip , Asselborn declared “it is time to wake up at a European level. In recent years, I have not received much support from my European colleagues when it was necessary to fight annexation projects in the West Bank. We absolutely have to arrive at a common position at European level.”
The United Nations Security Council will meet again on Sunday. Two informal meetings had previously failed following the refusal of the United States to publicly condemn its Israeli ally.
