EU migration ministers address risks from Israel-Hamas war

The European Union's migration ministers meet on Thursday to discuss improving security in the bloc after deadly attacks in France and Belgium, as well as worries whether the war between Israel and Hamas would force mass displacement of people.

Some in the 27-nation bloc have already called for tighter borders, more repatriations of foreigners and new deals with African states to keep refugees and migrants from Europe since a Tunisian failed asylum-seeker killed two in Brussels on Monday.

A teacher was slain in northern France last week in an attack.

The killings occurred at a time of heightened security concerns across much of Europe linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

"The implications of the situation in the Middle East for our internal security... are very topical right now," said an EU diplomat involved in preparing the ministerial talks.

"Both with regard to the situation as it develops in the Middle East and to what we're seeing happening inside of the EU."

It will be the ministers' first chance to exchange views in person since the Oct.7 attack by Palestinian group Hamas that killed at least 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, and to which Israel has responded by bombarding Gaza.

The ministers are not expected to take any specific decisions but will discuss topics including what particular developments could cause Palestinians to flee in large numbers, or trigger violent acts inside the bloc.

Reuters