Representatives of European and Arab countries meet in Barcelona to discuss the Israel-Hamas war

By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Delegations from the European Union member states and Middle Eastern and north African countries are meeting in Barcelona, Spain, to discuss the crisis in Gaza where a fragile pause in fighting is set to expire. Forty-two delegations will gather at Monday the event hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean, with many represented by their foreign ministers. Israel is not attending. The pause in hostilities between Israel and the Hamas militant group continued Sunday with a third straight day of hostages and Palestinian prisoners released. The EU is the world’s biggest provider of assistance to the Palestinians. Almost $1.3 billion have been earmarked for 2021-2024.