Geneva – The European Union (EU) continues to evade its international obligations regarding the grave crimes committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, proposing only selective and fragmented measures that fail to utilise its real leverage tools against Israel and do nothing to halt the ongoing genocide for over 23 months.
The measures proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are symbolic and superficial, lacking seriousness and firmness, and amount to a manoeuvre around the EU’s legal obligations under international law.
In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Von der Leyen proposed a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on trade-related matters, a halt to direct financial transfers to the Israeli government and its institutions, sanctions on extremist ministers and violent settlers, and the establishment of a Palestine Donor Group with a mechanism for Gaza reconstruction.
These proposals are nothing more than political window dressing, while the EU continues to ignore substantive measures required under international law, including a full suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, an end to all forms of military cooperation and arms trade, and sanctions on Israeli institutions and officials implicated in atrocities in Gaza.
… Through both action and inaction, European governments continue to provide political and legal cover for Israel’s violations, despite internal assessments and public statements recognising serious breaches of international humanitarian law, including acts that may amount to genocide.
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