At an EU summit held in Brussels, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on European Union leaders to uphold international law and humanitarian principles in Gaza, echoing the same standards applied in the Ukraine conflict. Guterres emphasized the protection of civilians as a fundamental principle of international humanitarian law and urged against double standards in addressing crises.

The warning comes as a UN food agency has issued an alarming alert of imminent famine in northern Gaza, where dire food shortages are exacerbating an already critical humanitarian situation. The mounting death toll, nearing 32,000 people, underscores the urgency of the situation, with Israel considering a ground offensive in the southern city of Rafah, further escalating tensions.

Despite historical divisions within the EU regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the devastating impact of recent events has prompted a growing consensus for a ceasefire. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar criticized Europe's response, describing it as inconsistent and undermining efforts to address the Ukraine crisis. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo emphasized the need for Europe to lead in demanding an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian intervention.

In their summit conclusions, EU leaders expressed concern over the loss of civilian lives and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire. They also urged the Israeli government to refrain from a ground operation in Rafah, citing the potential for further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a staunch ally of Israel, reiterated the importance of avoiding a large-scale offensive in Rafah during his recent visit to Israel. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell characterized the situation in Gaza as a failure of humanity, attributing it to ongoing bombing and violence.

As tensions continue to escalate in Gaza, the EU faces mounting pressure to take decisive action to address the humanitarian crisis and push for a sustainable ceasefire, while upholding principles of international law and humanitarianism.