Spanish, Belgian, Irish, Maltese PMs propose Gaza peace plan
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The prime ministers also called for recognition of both "Israel" and Palestine, while asking that the EU attempt to negotiate a long-term truce and take measures to protect civilians.
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A protester takes part in a demonstration march carrying a banner showing the Palestinian flag, in support of Palestine in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023 (AP Photo/Paul White)
According to Spanish radio Cadena SER, the prime ministers of Spain, Belgium, Ireland, and Malta submitted a united letter to European Council President Charles Michel with a plan to settle the war on Gaza, which included help to the Palestinian Authority to seize control of the besieged strip.
The reports detail that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and their Maltese counterpart, Robert Abela urged for financial and political assistance to the Palestinian administration to maintain control over the situation.
The plan also includes limited mobility in particular regions as well as the freezing of assets of Israeli settlers who have engaged in attacks against Palestinians.
The prime ministers also called for recognition of both "Israel" and Palestine, while asking that the EU attempt to negotiate a long-term truce and take measures to protect civilians.
During Qatar’s Doha Forum on Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the UN Security Council is “paralyzed by geostrategic divisions,” which is impeding an effective solution to stop the bloodshed in Gaza.
The Secretary-General expressed disappointment regarding the UNSC's inability to implement a ceasefire, stating geopolitical divisions paralyze the “UNSC, its credibility undermined by the inability to pass a resolution urging a Gaza ceasefire.”
He added, “Regrettably, the Security Council failed to do it…I can promise, I will not give up... We are facing a severe risk of collapse of the humanitarian system”, as he declared that the situation is “deteriorating into a catastrophe with potentially irreversible implications for Palestinians as a whole and for peace and security in the region.”
In his speech at the Forum, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called out the United States after it vetoed the vote to implement a ceasefire two days ago at the UN. “For the United States to block a United Nations Security Council resolution, one should hold the Americans responsible”, he said.
