All EU countries but one agreed on Monday to call on Israel not to launch an offensive in the south of Gaza and ask for a humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance.

We have a statement approved by 26 member countries, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a news conference after a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Borrell said that he proposed the statement over the weekend, and that today a paragraph was added seeking “an immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a sustainable ceasefire, to the unconditional release of hostages, and to the provision of humanitarian assistance.”

Borrell did not name the country that did not agree to the text but diplomats said Hungary blocked a similar statement a few days ago.

In that statement, Israel was called upon not to launch an attack on Rafah in the south of Gaza.

Borrell said at a Munich security conference on Sunday that some European countries were playing their own game in Gaza, thus weakening the EU's geopolitical importance.