The situation in Gaza has raised a growing international debate, especially in the context of the response of the European Union (EU) before Israel’s actions. Francesca Albanese, a UN Special Rapporteur over the occupied Palestinian territories, has strongly criticized the position of the European Commission, noting that his support for Israel could be considered as complicity in war crimes.
Criticism of the EU address
In a recent interview published by The InterceptAlbanese described as “deplorable” the attitude of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the high EU representative for foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas. The expert stressed that the continuity of commercial and diplomatic relations with Israel in the midst of the current crisis is unacceptable. “I am not one of those who say that ‘History will judge them’; they must be judged now. Immunity cannot be synonymous with impunity,” said Albanese.
The special rapporteur has been working on a report that exposes the role of various institutions and organizations, including banks and universities, in the perpetuation of human rights violations in Gaza. Albanese emphasized that those who support the occupation are facilitating violations of international law and that can be considered individual level responsible for their actions.
Albanese has also urged Von der Lead to use her influence to stop what she describes as “genocide” in Gaza. He criticized Kallas for not pressing Israel to cease his military operations during his visit to Tel Aviv in March, where the European official declared that “both parties lose” in the conflict.
The situation in Gaza has scaled dramatically since Hamas’ surprise attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 Israelis and taking around 250 hostages. Since then, it is estimated that more than 52,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
In response to criticism, a spokeswoman for the European Commission, Gioia Franchellucci, defended Brussels’s commitment to international law, stating that EU’s relationship with Israel allows officials to express their “positions and concerns.” The spokeswoman stressed that the association agreement with Israel is the legal basis for continuous dialogue with Israeli authorities.
The debate on EU’s responsibility in the Gaza conflict continues, with increasingly critical voices that demand a change in European politics towards Israel and a greater commitment to the protection of human rights in the region.
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