The European Council, after hours of long debate, finally released a joint statement on the Middle East on Thursday.
"The European Council expresses its gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs," it was written in the statement.
The divide between member states was caused by concerns related to wording. While some, such as Spain, expressed a need for a "humanitarian ceasefire," others, such as Germany, warned that using the term "ceasefire" could trample on Israel's right to defend itself. In the end, they agreed on a compromise, with the EC using the word "pauses."
