”It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) be given access to the hostages,” said the EU foreign policy chief in a statement.

"We call on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages,’’ said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a statement on Sunday (12 November).

He also condemned the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields. "We condemn the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields by Hamas. Civilians must be allowed to leave the combat zone. Hostilities are severely impacting hospitals and taking a horrific toll on civilians."

He called on Israel to exercise “maximum restraint” to protect civilians in the ongoing war.

Borrell’s statement reiterated the EU’s position that Israel has “the right to defend itself in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law."

The EU also "joins calls for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors” in the Gaza Strip.

It also calls on Hamas to release the more than 240 hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7 attacks and considers it “crucial” that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) be given “access to the hostages”.

EU Foreign Ministers will again discuss the situation in Israel and the region at their meeting today (13 November) in Brussels.

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