European Union leaders have called for “humanitarian corridors and pauses” to allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza, writes BBC.

In a declaration at a summit in Brussels, the leaders of the EU’s 27 nations expressed “gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza”.

They called for “continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs”.

The declaration also said the European Council “reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of Hamas for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel”: “The use of civilians as human shields by Hamas is particularly deplorable atrocity”.