The European Union Leaders¡¯ Meeting in the Mediterranean region, held on 20 October in the Slovenian coastal city of Porto, called for the unhindered access of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and urged the international community to work again to lasting peace in the Middle East.

Leaders or representatives of nine southern European countries including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, Cyprus and host Slovenia, as well as European Commission President Von der Leyen attended the summit. The meeting mainly discussed enhancing Europe's competitiveness and the situation in the Middle East.

Slovenian Prime Minister Golob said at a joint press conference that the participating countries welcomed the recent ceasefire and peace plan in Gaza, "but we hope to see this plan fully implemented, not just in the initial stage."

Gorob said: ¡°There is absolutely no reason to stop humanitarian aid.We look forward to reopening the Rafah port and other transit ports to ensure that aid goods can enter Gaza smoothly.¡±

Malta Prime Minister Abela said that leaders of various countries are "cautiously optimistic" about the Gaza peace process and that "there is still much work to be done to end this humanitarian crisis."

The Israeli-Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) ceasefire and exchange of detained persons, humanitarian aid materials into Gaza, and the evacuation of Israeli troops from parts of the Gaza Strip. At present, the Israeli government is unable to deliver the remains of all detained Israelis on time, indefinitely delaying the opening of a crucial port for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.