BRUSSELS

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Tuesday called for urgent humanitarian access to Gaza, stressing the dire conditions on the ground and reiterating the need for a permanent ceasefire.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen following the European Parliament's meeting with the incoming Danish Presidency of the Council, Metsola described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "catastrophic."

"The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. We have children, women, and men dying every day," she said. "And we as the number one contributor of humanitarian aid, should be asking where ... that aid (is) going, and how is it going to get to the people who need it the most."

Metsola underscored the parliament’s long-standing position calling for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the importance of advancing toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

She reaffirmed that the EU "will not shy away" from addressing indiscriminate bombings of civilians, adding that the ongoing review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement will reflect these concerns.

Frederiksen also echoed the urgency, saying: "We need aid immediately to enter Gaza. We need a ceasefire to ensure that. And we need, of course, all the hostages to be freed, and then we have to push our partners in Israel, to take care of, especially the civilians of course in Gaza and to find a way forward."

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, Israel has pursued a devastating offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war crimes against civilians in the enclave.

Denmark to take over EU rotating presidency

As Denmark prepares to take over the rotating EU Council presidency on July 1, Frederiksen acknowledged the scale of the challenges Europe faces from war and migration to climate change and economic uncertainty.

"Europe faces the greatest challenges in generations," the Danish prime minister said, calling for quicker decision-making and stronger cooperation between EU institutions. She pledged to prioritize support for Ukraine, energy stability, and managing migration.

Metsola welcomed Denmark's leadership, highlighting its potential to strengthen European security, competitiveness, and democratic resilience.

"The time for geopolitical outsourcing is over, we must take responsibility for our own security, and that starts with Ukraine," she said.