ALWAGHT- Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, advocates for measures to address Israeli war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has criticized the EU’s leniency towards Israel, emphasizing that the bloc has yet to impose significant consequences for the regime’s actions. Addressing violations of international law in Gaza and Lebanon, he proposed measures ranging from banning imports from Israel to suspending political dialogue with the regime.
Borrell argued that the EU’s credibility hinges on fairness, urging a shift in the bloc’s approach. He highlighted that attacks on healthcare workers and facilities constitute severe breaches of international humanitarian law, underscoring the non-negotiable protection of medical personnel in conflict zones.
The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council is set to discuss Borrell’s proposals next week. Borrell condemned the killing of 12 paramedics in an Israeli strike near Baalbek, describing such attacks as an assault on human dignity and a violation of fundamental human rights. He linked this pattern of targeting healthcare to trends seen in conflicts like Syria, Ukraine, and Sudan, whether due to recklessness or deliberate targeting.
The ongoing war on Gaza, initiated by Israel on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, has resulted in over 43,730 Palestinian deaths—most of them women and children—and more than 103,000 injuries. Thousands remain missing and are presumed dead beneath the rubble, marking an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
