BRUSSELS: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, adding her voice to the growing international pressure for a truce between Israel and Hamas.
“We need a ceasefire in Gaza now. That’s the only way to save lives, restore hope for peace, and secure the return of hostages,” von der Leyen stated on X.
She expressed strong support for the efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to bring about peace and stability in the region.
Earlier today, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel has agreed to resume ceasefire talks on August 15, following demands from US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators amid rising regional tensions.
The talks aim to secure a second truce in the ongoing Israel’s war on Gaza which began on October 7 last year
Gaza health ministry has said that Israel’s war on Gaza, now in its 308th day, has killed at least 39,699 Palestinians mostly women and children.
It said that over 91,722 have been injured in the war with more than 10,000 estimated to be buried under debris of bombed buildings.
Meanwhile, the UN agency of Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Friday said that a total of 205 humanitarian aid workers have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October.
In a statement, the UN agency reported that the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza have cause civilian casualties, displacement of people and the destruction of residential buildings and public infrastructure.
“As of 7 August, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since 7 October is 205,” said the agency.
The statement also stated that “up to 1.9 million people across Gaza are displaced internally including people who have been repeatedly displaced.
According to the agency the health system remains “barely functional with 90 hospitals and primary health care centers not functioning”.
