On Monday 11 December, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, announced that he would be making proposals to the Member States on a sanctions regime against Hamas and to punish violent settlers in the West Bank.
At the end of the Foreign Affairs Council, Mr Borrell explained that there was a strong majority of Member States in favour of action against Hamas, “including sanctions”.
“We are alarmed by the violence in the West Bank settlements and by the Israeli government’s approval of 1,700 new housing units in East Jerusalem”, explained the High Representative, announcing that the EU was working on an official statement on the subject.
The EU will also be working “to impose sanctions against extremist settlers”, he announced, adding that he would be making a proposal, following the example of the United States, which has banned certain settlers from obtaining visas, and using the European regime on human rights violations. According to Mr Borrell, we need to “stop saying we are concerned” and “move from words to deeds”.
He added that the EU would be considering how its missions on the ground - EUPOL COPPS and EUBAM Rafah - could contribute to efforts to stabilise the occupied territories. He will also be working with the EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process on proposals to pursue a political initiative to ensure the governance of Gaza and to work towards a two-state solution.
The ministers also reaffirmed their financial support for the Palestinian Authority, saying it should continue (see EUROPE 13297/12). “Ministers have clearly told the European Commission that annual spending must be increased rapidly”, announced Mr Borrell.
The High Representative also returned to the “catastrophic, apocalyptic” situation of civilians in Gaza. “Responding to human suffering is an unprecedented challenge for the international community”, he acknowledged, pointing out that 60-70% of deaths involved civilians.
On their arrival at the Council, several ministers had publicly called for further pauses in the fighting to allow the arrival of humanitarian aid. “We continue to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, to allow a humanitarian ceasefire, which we hope will lead to negotiations, a resumption of peace talks. [...] Humanitarian corridors are absolutely essential to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and also, of course, the release of the hostages”, said Hadja Lahbib of Belgium.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 18,000 people have died since 7 October. 1.9 million Gazans, or 85% of the enclave’s population, are internally displaced. Mr Borrell added that the destruction of buildings in Gaza was worse than that suffered by German cities during the Second World War. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)