Several hundred European officials have once again expressed their profound disagreement with the European Union’s approach to the impact of the war between Israel and the terrorist organisation Hamas in Gaza.
In a letter sent at the end of January to the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the six-monthly Presidency of the EU Council, they called on the EU to use the levers at its disposal, including the adoption of sanctions, to ensure that Israel complies with international humanitarian law.
The signatories of the letter urge the EU to use its influence to put an end to the ongoing military operations in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem) by acting “in line with” the approach adopted in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine: “sanctions against Russia, individual restrictive measures, economic sanctions, bans on media outlets, diplomatic measures, visa measures, restrictions on economic relations and cooperation”.
Other measures that the EU could take include suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, revising bilateral agreements, in particular Israel’s participation in European programmes, and adopting an arms embargo. It also stresses the importance of seeking redress for “the economic burden on European tax payers for the costs of the Israeli occupation of Palestine”.
In their letter, the members of staff of the EU institution recall the obligations imposed on the Union by the TFEU in its external relations, namely the protection of human rights, in particular the rights of the child, and respect for the United Nations Charter. By failing to act in accordance with these fundamental values, European leaders are contributing to “the growing isolation of the EU due to the deterioration of its reputation and leverage before its partners in the whole world”, they deplore.
Referring to a 2004 ruling by the International Court of Justice, these European officials even question Israel’s right to defend itself following the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023, arguing that Israel is the occupying power in Palestine and that the right to defend oneself is only defined in the event of an attack by one state against another.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/apb (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)