On Wednesday 18 October, MEPs emphasised the importance of protecting civilians in the Middle East, in the wake of a strike on a hospital in the Gaza Strip that killed at least 500 people (see other news).
Condemning the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel on 7 October, which Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium) described as “crimes against humanity”, MEPs called for the hostages to be released. “No cause justifies violence”, said S&D Group President Iratxe García Pérez.
For EPP group chairman Manfred Weber (German) “we must stand by Israel without apology, without ‘buts’” and Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR, Dutch) “we must give unconditional support to the Jewish state”, in the face of the “barbarity” of Hamas. However, other MEPs, while reiterating Israel’s right to defend itself, insisted on respect for international law.
“The right to defence is not the right to revenge, you don’t collectively punish a people”, warned Manon Aubry (The Left, French). “Cutting off water and electricity, preventing the arrival of food, killing people and displacing them are all violations of international humanitarian law”, stressed Ms García Pérez.
On behalf of Renew Europe, Stéphane Séjourné stressed the need to ensure the protection of civilian populations. “One life is not worth more than another”, he warned, while for Mr Lamberts, “crimes cannot justify more crimes”. “Bombing Gazans, locking them in a siege where they end up either in exile or murdered is unacceptable; all the victims deserve our full solidarity”, insisted the Greens/EFA co-president.
On behalf of their group, Ms García Pérez, Ms Aubry and Mr Lamberts called for a ceasefire, in particular to create humanitarian corridors.
MEPs also called for a long-term solution, based on a two-state solution. For Mr Séjourné, “the two-state solution must be our political objective, and our message must be based on this consensus”.
Furthermore, while Mr Weber welcomed Ms von der Leyen’s visit to Israel, several MEPs, on the contrary, denounced the trip and the messages conveyed, or not conveyed, to the Israeli authorities.
The EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell, stated that the EU should base its response to events on four principles: - firmness, with a clear condemnation of Hamas; - humanity, issuing a reminder that rules must be followed in times of war; - consistency of messages and actions; - finally, a proactive political stance to achieve a two-state solution.
According to the draft resolution to be put to the vote on Thursday, MEPs should condemn in the strongest possible terms the “despicable terrorist attacks by the terrorist group Hamas” and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, emphasising that hostage-taking is “a violation of international law and constitutes a war crime”.
Parliament would also recognise Israel’s right to self-defence, “as enshrined in and constrained by international law” and that Israel’s actions must strictly comply with international humanitarian law.
“Very concerned about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip”, Parliament would call for the opening and permanent maintenance of channels for the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians and call on the international community to continue and increase its humanitarian aid to the population of the region.
It would also reiterate its unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution and encourage the European External Action Service and the Member States to take a European initiative to put this solution back on track.
To see the draft resolution, go to https://aeur.eu/f/94n (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)