EU says it 'deplores' ceasefire breach and blames Hamas

European leaders on Thursday issued the following statement on the return to war in Gaza, with no mention of Israel:

"The European Council deplores the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has caused a large number of civilian casualties in recent air strikes. It deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages."

The European Council works within the European Union to define the alliance's political direction.