The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, admitted on Thursday 8 May that Europeans were frustrated at not being able to change the situation in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation is catastrophic.
“The frustration of Member States that we cannot stop what is happening in Gaza is immense”, she explained at the end of an informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Warsaw. According to a European source, there was “anger in the room” about the situation.
On the same day, the Member States were unable to agree on a joint statement on the situation, with Ms Kallas acknowledging divergent views and differences between the positions of the Member States. “Most EU countries recognised that the situation in Gaza was untenable and deteriorating rapidly, and that plans to step up military operations in Gaza would lead to further suffering for the civilian population”, explained Ms Kallas.
It also rejected “any attempt at democratic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, as well as any forced displacement of the Palestinian population”. The High Representative urged Israel to immediately lift the blockade and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
For his part, Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, pointed out that while Israel had the right to defend itself, as the occupying power of Gaza and the West Bank, it was also responsible for the health of the population. “If Israel doesn’t want our money to feed these people, Israel has a duty to do so itself”, he warned.
On leaving the meeting, the Spanish minister, José Manuel Albares Bueno, announced that his country would be presenting a resolution to the United Nations on the situation in Gaza, “so everyone will have to decide where they stand”. “It is more important than ever for Europe to speak out against what is currently happening in Gaza. Europe must be very active [...] to lift the blockade of food, equipment and medical supplies, to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches all the inhabitants of Gaza”, he argued.
But given the Member States cannot agree on words, they are unlikely to agree on a response to the situation. However, at their Council meeting on 20 May, they will debate the Dutch Minister’s proposal to revise the Association Agreement with Israel, in relation to Article 2 on respect for human rights.
The Spanish minister and the Finnish minister, Elina Valtonen – who denounced Israel’s politicisation of humanitarian aid – publicly supported their Dutch counterpart’s initiative. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)