European Union foreign ministers met on Monday to discuss the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians and in particular the latest violence in the Gaza Strip.
Hostilities have soared since Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza, launched a border riot campaign on March 30. Israel has repeatedly presented evidence that terrorists have been using the mass demonstrations as cover to try to breach the border and carry out attacks.
As they were arriving for a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels, the EU's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini and the Dutch and Belgian foreign ministers said they would continue to push for a two-state solution with Jerusalem the capital of both states.
"We will have a discussion with the ministers on the situation in Gaza," Mogherini said.
"As you know, the commitment from the European Union and member states to continue to work for a two-state solution with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states is solid, and we will brainstorm a bit with the ministers on how we can try to move this agenda forward."
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said, "The EU is supporting a number of projects to improve the situation of the people living in Gaza. Furthermore, the only solution can be lasting peace and for that, both sides, both Palestinian and the Israeli sides will have to move, to get out of the foxholes, and work toward a two-state solution."
Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders noted that "we have asked an independent investigation about the situation in Gaza, and it was a process in the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Belgium has asked with other partners to organize a real independent investigation. And it's also a request from the secretary general of the United Nations so we need to do that and to have clear conclusions on that."
At the same time, members of the global citizens movement Avaaz displayed 4,500 pairs of shoes on a square behind the European Council where ministers were meeting.
They said the shoes had been donated by people across Europe to represent each life lost in the conflict over the last decade. Organizers wore shirts and held banners that read "Palestinian Lives Matter."
Avaaz Campaign Director Christoph Schott called on the EU ministers to impose sanctions on Israel.
