(26 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels – 26 May 2024
1. Various of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, EU High Representative Josep Borrell, and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at news conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Espen Barth Eide, Norwegian Foreign Minister:
"The house is on fire. It’s really a terrible situation now, but it can get even worse. If we do not move forward, we will go even deeper into an abyss of violence inspiring more violence, a circle of violence."
3. Cutaway
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Foreign Minister:
"Obviously, we have an understanding of the dire critical situation. We need a cease-fire immediately, there is a growing consensus, I think almost everyone in the world agrees that an immediate cease-fire is necessary, including the release of the hostages. But the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate in a rapid manner, in a way that is completely unacceptable. And as it has been mentioned, we are seeing additional steps being taken by Israel that impact not just the civilians in Gaza, but are also putting the civilian population of the West Bank in a very, very difficult situation."
5. Wide of news conference
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Josep Borrell, EU High Representative:
"The two-state solution is not a painful concession that Israel is doing, it is not a security threat for Israel. But the contrary, it is the only long-term guarantee for the security and prosperity of Israel. I know that the current Israeli government is not convinced of that. And we have to work in order to make this idea, to go to the public opinion, in order to push for the only solution that we can imagine in order to bring peace and security to the two people who are fighting for the same land."
7. End of news conference
STORYLINE:
Representatives of 38 countries held a meeting in Brussels on Sunday, calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and for a two-state solution.
Speaking after the meeting co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Norway, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that the situation in Gaza was "terrible" but could still get worse.
"The house is on fire…If we do not move forward, we will go even deeper into an abyss of violence inspiring more violence, a circle of violence," he warned.
Co-chair and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud pushed for an immediate cease-fire, describing the humanitarian situation as "completely unacceptable."
"We are seeing additional steps being taken by Israel that impact not just the civilians in Gaza, but are also putting the civilian population of the West Bank in a very, very difficult situation," bin Farhan Al Saud added.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell, who represented the European Union at the meeting, urged for a two-state solution, saying that it is the "only long term guarantee for the security and prosperity of Israel."
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