In Gaza, bombs are again raining down on civilians, children and hospitals, killing and destroying everything. The indiscriminate massacre that we are witnessing from Europe is getting increasingly unbearable. While the week's truce was obviously welcome, allowing civilians to be protected, and the humanitarian disaster to be exposed, the resumption of fighting is a sign that the situation is not improving.
The conflict has been bloody over the years, but since Hamas' atrocious terror attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, the situation has escalated into a complete disaster. The relentless bombardment of Gaza by Israel armed forces has led to a full siege of Gaza, depriving 2 million Palestinians of electricity, water, food and fuel supplies. Since
7 October 2023, more than 14 000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli bombardment, of which more than 5 800 children. The most common age of those killed in Gaza is five years. Journalists, hospital staff, UN staff, school staff, children and the elderly: no one is safe.
These attacks constitute a horrific collective punishment of the Palestinian people and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. None of these constitutes, in any possible way, an exercise of the right to self-defense.
We, European parliamentarians and politicians from large parts of the progressive left in Europe, demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. We call for international law to be respected, and for world leaders to work for an end to the long conflict between Israel and Palestine and for a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and freedom.
This situation, which is part of a 75-year-long conflict, has become increasingly dire in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem as well. An ever-growing number of Palestinians have been billed by Israeli security forces and by settlers. Dozens of Palestinian communities have been attacked and forcefully displaced. Arbitrary arrests and detentions have surged. Several statements made by Israeli officials, such as proposing to nuke Gaza or comparing Palestinians to “human animals”, tend to indicate the existence of a risk of genocide against the Palestinian people.
The government led by Nethanyahu is the most right-wing government that has ever existed in Israel, and we believe that this is also the reason why Israel is now acting so indiscriminately. It is extremely worrying that so many are unable to both stand up against all forms of racism and at the same time distance themselves from and criticize the states that act in violation of international law.
Now the pressure on the Israeli government must increase in order to reduce the suffering among Palestinians. But when the EU, after far too long of consideration, finally starts reacting, it calls for temporary "humanitarian pauses". For EU leaders, the people in Gaza should get small breaks between the bomb attacks, not a lasting ceasefire.
The EU can no longer look away. Our continent knows too well how fragile the thin veil of humanity is. History will judge EU leaders severely for their “unconditional” support to the butchery committed by the far-right government of Israel.
In 2022, when faced with a clear violation of international law by the Russian Federation, the EU has taken welcome and unprecedented sanctions against the Russian government. The EU must be ready to do the same and take all necessary sanctions against Israel until it fully complies with international law starting by suspending the EU-Israel association agreement. We must also bring Netanyahu and his political inner circle before the International Criminal Court for the war crimes that were and are still being committed.
All hostages, political prisoners and imprisoned children must be immediately released, a lasting ceasefire imposed and the blockade of Gaza must end. Those guilty of crimes must be investigated and prosecuted. We are convinced that a two-state solution is possible, if only the political will exists, and that both Palestinians and Israelis must be guaranteed peace and security. Because no one is free until we are all free.
For too long has the EU remained deaf to the sufferings of the Palestinian people. We are here to say: no more.
Manon Aubry, MEP La France insoumise, Co-Chair of the Left (France)
Ione Belarra, Member of Parliament, Secretary General of Podemos (Spain)
Pernando Barrena, MEP EH Bildu (Basque Country)
Malin Bjork, MEP Vansterpartiet (Sweden)
Manuel Bompard, Member of Parliament, Coordinator of La France insoumise (France)
Nooshi Dadgostar, Member of Parliament, Leader of Vansterpartiet (Sweden)
Pelle Dragsted, Leader of Enhedslisten (Denmark)
Chris MacManus, MEP Sinn Féin (Ireland)
Marisa Matias, MEP Bloco de Esquerda (Portugal)
Ana Miranda, MEP Bloque Nacionalista Galego (Galicia)
Silvia Modig, MEP Vasemmistoliitto (Finland)
Mariana Mortágua, Member of Parliament, Coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda (Portugal)
Idoia Villanueva, MEP Podemos (Spain)
Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP Enhedslisten (Denmark)
