STRASBOURG/BRUSSELS (EJP)---The European Parliament believes that the policy of isolation of the Gaza Strip "has failed" at both political and humanitarian level.
In a resolution adopted on Thursday during the plenary session of the parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs called for an end to the blockade and for a controlled re-opening of the crossings in and out of Gaza.
They called on Israel to ensure the movement of people and goods at Rafah, Karni and other crossings, in compliance with the Agreement on Movement and Access.
The MEPs reiterated a call to all parties "to fully respect international law, and notably international humanitarian law."
The resolution was voted at a large majority by raised hand.
The European Parliament "reiterates its deep concern at the humanitarian and political crisis in the Gaza Strip" but also expressed "its deepest sympathy for the civilian population affected by the violence in Gaza and southern Israel".
MEPs believe that the civilian population should be exempt from any military action and any collective punishment.
They also called on Israel "to fulfil its international obligations, as an occupying power", in the Gaz Strip.
MEPs called on Israel "to cease military actions killing and endangering civilians, and extrajudicial targeted killings."
They called on Hamas, following the illegal takeover of the Gaza Strip, “to prevent the firing of rockets by Palestinian militias from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory.”
Stressing the need of a "peaceful and lasting political reunification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank", the parliament urged Hamas "to revise its position in line with the Quartet principles and to support the peace process and the ongoing negotiations."
The Parliament considered as "positive" the reaction by Egypt to the disturbances at Rafah, which allowed many Palestinian families to have access to essential goods for their basic needs.
The MEPs welcomed the proposal by the Palestinian Authority to take control of the crossings, on the basis of an agreement involving Egypt, Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
In its resolution, tabled by the six main political groupings, the European Parliament reiterated its call for the immediate release of Israeli corporal Gilad Shalit which, it said, "would be perceived as an act of goodwill on the part of Hamas", and of all imprisoned Palestinian former ministers, legislators and mayors.
The vote of the resolution is seen as a way to increase European Union pressure on Israel to end the blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to prevent a humanitarian crisis.
Change of EU policy ?
European Union ministers are reportedly expressing growing concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and over the lack of progress in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
According to Haaretz newspaper, Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Ran Curiel, has warned the Israeli foreign ministry of an overall European policy change toward Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which could even lead to a recognition of Hamas.
Hamas, which took over power in Gaza from Fatah last year, is still considered as a terror organization by the European Union which does only recognize the Palestinian Authority
Curiel said that in recent weeks he received reports that the French government was reexamining its attitude toward Hamas.
Marc Otte, the EU Mideast envoy, has declared: "We must consider a change of policy in everything regarding Gaza."
However, Christina Gallach, spokeswoman of Javier Solana, the EU’s foreign policy chief, told EJP on Thursday that "the EU is not considering to change its attitude toward Hamas."
"Our policy will remain the same, we will continue to talk with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas but we are convinced that everything must be done to lift the blockade of Gaza for humanitarian reasons," she said.
"We are in favour of reopening the Rafah crossing if the three parties agree," she added.
The EU is ready to restart its border assistance mission at Rafah if needed, she said.
At a meeting with her Romanian counterpart Adrian Cioroianu, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that any talk of ending the blockade only weakens Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Any indirect support of Hamas, even if it is done through discussions on the crossings or the humanitarian situation, weakens those interested in reaching an agreement," Livni's office quoted her as saying.
"The Palestinian people has no future with Hamas and we will continue to fight its terrorism," she added.