EU calls for ‘pauses’ in hostilities, humanitarian corridors in Gaza

Israel security cabinet approves closing down int’l broadcasters who ‘harm national interests’

BRUSSELS — The European Union (EU) has called for “immediate pauses in hostilities” and the establishment of humanitarian corridors in Gaza, the EU foreign policy chief said in a statement.

“The EU is gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said in the statement.

The EU calls for “continued, rapid, safe and unhindered” humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need, emphasizing that international humanitarian law stipulates that “hospitals, medical supplies and civilians inside hospitals must be protected”, Xinhua news agency reported.

Hospitals must also be supplied immediately with the most urgent medical supplies and patients that require urgent medical care need to be evacuated safely, the statement noted.

In the statement, the EU also urges Israel “to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the protection of civilians.”

Israel security cabinet approves closing down int’l broadcasters who ‘harm national interests’

TEL AVIV — The security cabinet of Israel has approved regulations that will allow the government to close down foreign broadcasters who “harm national interests”.

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Kathi is pushing for regulations to shut down the Qatar-based Al Jazeera news channel and Lebanon based Al-Mayadeen network from broadcasting in the Jewish nation.

There has been wide protests against Al-Jazeera in Israel, with critics complaining that the channel was against the national interests of the country.

Ever since Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists on October 7, there has been calls within the government that the Al Jazeera network’s bureau in the Jewish state should be closed down.

With the new regulation in place, the Communications Ministry of Israel will be showing its door to the foreign networks from operating in the country.

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