Europe must use its influence on Israel to end 'humanitarian disaster' in Gaza - Nauseda

VILNIUS - Europe must use its influence on Israel to stop the "humanitarian disaster" in the Gaza Strip, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday.

"We discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and we want this humanitarian disaster to end, with humanitarian corridors opened so that children and women, that is, people who have nothing to do with the fighting, don't suffer," he said in a video comment from the European Council meeting in Brussels.

European Union (EU) leaders were presented with a report by Kaja Kallas, the bloc's foreign policy chief, showing that children make up 44 percent of the casualties in Gaza, according to the president.

"Not to mention the condition these children arrive in, as many countries are trying to bring them to our hospitals. (...) It's heartbreaking for a normal person to hear this, and it can't continue," the Lithuanian leader said in the comment.

"On this issue, Europe, unlike in the case of Russia, does have influence over Israel and must use it, whether through bilateral contacts and talks or by acting as a united EU force," he added.

Nauseda said that decisions on the matter are likely to be postponed until the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in mid-July.

"But I hope that by then - at least that was our agreement - the High Representative (Kallas) and her office will have prepared recommendations and measures we can take," he said.

EU countries remain divided and lack a common position on criticizing Israel's actions.

In late May, Nauseda said that Israel's military operations in Gaza violate humanitarian law but emphasized that criticism of the Jewish state should come through cooperation, not isolation.

While Lithuania has taken a moderate stance, the president said "you'd have to be completely blind" not to see the humanitarian law violations in Gaza.