EU should act as peace broker in Gaza: Slovenian MEP

The European Union (EU) has been acting hypocritically regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict and should do more to facilitate lasting peace, Milan Brglez, a Slovenian member of the European Parliament (EP), said in a press statement on Friday according to the Slovenian news agency STA, said Xinhua.

According to the STA, Brglez criticized the EU for unconditionally supporting Israel but making very little effort to help the Palestinians. Brglez is a member of the EP's Socialists & Democrats group and a member of the Slovenian Social Democrats, a junior party in Slovenia's center-left government coalition.

He was quoted as saying that Slovenia "must resist such an approach by all means and always uphold international and humanitarian law, which is absolutely clear in such cases."

According to the STA, Brglez condemned what he saw as disunity regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and representatives of the EP, which he said is dividing the bloc and does not contribute to brokering a cease fire and finding a solution to the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

At the same time, Brglez welcomed Slovenia's decision to support the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly last week, which called for humanitarian cease fire in Gaza, the STA reported.

Slovenia will in January 2024 start a two-year period of non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council and Brglez said the country should use this position to push for an immediate cease fire in Israel and Gaza, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the respect of international law and the law of armed conflict, the STA said.