EU's Borrell condemns Israeli strikes on Palestinian schools, calls for urgent ceasefire

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has strongly condemned the recent Israeli military strikes on Palestinian schools in Gaza, declaring that there is "no justification" for such attacks.

In the posts on his X page, Borrell expressed his horror at the images emerging from a school being used as a shelter in Gaza that was hit by an Israeli strike, reportedly resulting in dozens of Palestinian casualties, Caliber.Az reports.

He highlighted that at least ten schools have been targeted in the past few weeks, contributing to the escalating death toll in the ongoing conflict.

"There’s no justification for these massacres. We are dismayed by the terrible overall death toll," the EU top diplomat said, noting that over 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

In his remarks, Borrell also condemned the stance of Israeli Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has opposed efforts to broker a ceasefire, calling it "against the interest of the Israeli people."

Borrell emphasized that a ceasefire is the only way to halt the ongoing civilian casualties and secure the release of hostages.

The EU's top diplomat reiterated the Union's full support for the ceasefire and hostages' release deal proposed by the leaders of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.

"We have repeatedly reiterated our deep concern with the situation in Gaza and deplored the loss of civilian life," Borrell stated, urging for urgent action to end the violence.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry stated recently that the death toll in Gaza has reached 39,790 since the war started on October 7 of last year.

A further 91,702 have thus far been wounded in the conflict, the Gazan ministry added.

The number has not been independently verified, and the ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its toll.