EU foreign ministers are agreed that there should be a "humanitarian pause" and cessation of the hostilities in the Gaza Strip to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population.

There is agreement on the need for a humanitarian pause to deliver humanitarian aid without risk that exists as long as the hostilities continue, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Luxembourg on Monday.

EU foreign ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss the escalation of the Middle East conflict, the release of Israeli citizens taken hostage by Hamas in the 7 October assault and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip.

EU foreign ministers once again condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel, noting that in responding to attacks Israel should not deprive the population of Gaza of the basic necessities such as water and electricity.

“We have all expressed solidarity with Israel, condemned the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas, and supported Israel’s right to self-defence in line with international humanitarian law,” Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic-Radman said.

He went on to say that Ukraine was not put on the back burner due to the escalation of the Middle East conflict and that the EU continued to stand strongly with it.

“Even though focus in now on the Middle East, the awareness of the need to not neglect Ukraine has definitely stayed,” he said.

Grlic-Radman also said that more talks were necessary with some member countries to convince them that opening entry talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina would be justified.

“Some countries may not be overly enthusiastic and need to be talked to to convince them that opening entry talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina is justified, and that in the long run it will contribute to the stability of the Western Balkans and Bosnia and Herzegovina itself,” he said.