The ongoing starvation of the civilian population in Gaza amounts to “nothing short of a war crime”, a group of more than 100 former members of the European Parliament have said.
Tentative moves by the European Commission to sanction Israel for its conduct during its invasion of Gaza are “too little, too late”, the former MEPs stated.
In an open letter criticising the EU’s response to the war in Gaza, the large group of former politicians said concrete action needed to be taken by the EU executive arm led by Ursula von der Leyen.
The letter was signed by Josep Borrell, a former Spanish MEP who was the EU’s top foreign affairs envoy until late last year. His efforts to sanction Israel in that role were blocked.
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In total 110 former MEPs from Spain, Ireland, France, the UK and several other countries added their names to the joint letter.
The group called for the EU to suspend an association agreement that governs the bloc’s relations with Israel, which includes a free-trade deal.
The commission recently proposed suspending part of the agreement that allows to Israel access Horizon research funding. The decision needs the support of a weighted majority of the EU’s 27 states, with two of Israel’s backers, Germany and Italy, holding up the suspension.
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The open letter was organised by a former UK MEP, Glyn Ford of the Labour Party. Several former Irish MEPs added their names to the letter, including Emer Costello, Brian Crowley, Proinsias De Rossa and Pat the Cope Gallagher. Former Independent MEP and current Minister of State Marian Harkin is also among the signatories.
A failure by EU states to agree to take action against Israel would expose their “complicity” in its war crimes in Gaza, the letter stated.
Israel’s restriction of humanitarian aid getting into Gaza over recent weeks and months has heightened pressure on the country, as aid agencies continue to warn of spreading famine in the war-torn strip.
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s plan to further expand military operations in Gaza has drawn more international condemnation.
EU foreign ministers were to discuss the situation in Gaza during a video call on Monday, mostly focusing on upcoming talks on the Ukraine war between United States president Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s aerial bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza, which has destroyed much of the Palestinian territory’s buildings and infracture.
The Israeli invasion followed attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel on October 7th, 2023, during which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.
