EU, minus Hungary, calls for Israel-Palestine ceasefire

Hungary declines to join 26 other foreign ministers in calling for a ceasefire after days of intense Israeli attacks that have killed 217 Palestinians in Gaza.

Foreign ministers of the European Union nations have called for a ceasefire to end days of violence in Palestine but failed to reach the unanimity that might give the EU leverage in peacemaking. Hungary, Israel’s closest ally in the bloc, declined to join the other 26 foreign ministers in calling for a truce on their video call on Tuesday, convened by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. After chairing the meeting, Borrell said there was widespread agreement among the ministers that “the priority is the immediate cessation of all violence and the implementation of a ceasefire”.