Former EU envoys slam bloc's inaction on Israeli 'genocide'

Fifty-eight former European Union ambassadors have lambasted the European Union for "complicity" over its "silence and neutrality in the face of genocide", in an open letter published on Al Jazeera's website on July 31.

They urged all EU leaders and governments, especially those who prevented the Foreign Affairs Council on July 15, from "acting against Israel's egregious humanitarian and human rights violations", to take all necessary and feasible measures under international, European, and national law "to bring these atrocities to an end".

They accused the EU and nearly all of its member states who "have failed to respond meaningfully to these horrific events", putting the professional lives they have dedicated to upholding and promoting core European values and international law, their reputation and the interest of its peoples in "serious jeopardy as a consequence of EU inaction".

"We, 58 former ambassadors of the European Union, were appalled and outraged by the slaughter of innocent Israelis and hostage taking on Oct 7, 2023 by Hamas and others. No cause can justify such acts, and we condemn them outright," the letter started.

"Today, however, we are witnessing the horrifying spectacle of Israel carrying out, on a daily basis, atrocity crimes against the Palestinian people – above all in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank, amounting to a systematic campaign of brutalization, dehumanization, and displacement," it said.

They also criticized the Benjamin Netanyahu government for its "relentless campaign of violence and destruction in Gaza", the ongoing siege of starving the population by blocking the flow of humanitarian aid from United Nations' agencies and international nongovernmental organizations, and violence in the West Bank, as well as annexed land in violation of international law.

"The evidence of Israeli malfeasance and its flagrant violation of all known humanitarian and human rights laws is overwhelming. The United Nations, humanitarian organizations, and independent observers – including Israeli and Jewish voices – have documented these crimes in detail," the letter noted.

They also said they welcomed the recent condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank by the 28 foreign ministers, including those of the 20 EU member states, but said "words are not enough".

They demanded international aid deliveries resume at scale, suspend all arms and dual-use exports to Israel, ban trade with Israel's illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and prohibit EU and member states' commercial and investment relations with any entity or company doing business in or benefiting from Israel's illegal settlements.

They also demanded for the suspension of preferential commercial arrangements for Israel under the Association Agreement, cancel Israel's participation in Horizon Europe and all dual-use research, academic and programs of the EU, as well as impose targeted sanctions on Israeli ministers and government officials facilitating and "carrying out State-sanctioned terrorism".

They also called for the recognition of Palestinian statehood "to create the necessary prerequisite for a two-state solution".

"While continuing to call unceasingly for the return of the hostages, a permanent ceasefire and the end to the war, the European Union, long a champion of human rights and the rule of law, must act now in the name of international law, humanity, and justice for the Palestinian people – or risk forfeiting its credibility, influence and moral standing in the world," said the statement of the 58 former EU ambassadors.

The letter comes after more countries, particularly from the West, have announced their intention to recognize the State of Palestine in September. Canada has become the latest country to say it would recognize a Palestinian state. Earlier this week, the United Kingdom and Malta had also announced the same moves after France.

In similar moves, European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera slammed her colleagues during an interview on Spain's Cadena Ser radio network.

Ribera said that the EU Commission is a reflection of national sensibilities, but that institutionally, it "shouldn't be so", as it was supposed to be independent and represent the interests of the EU. "But the truth is that everyone comes with their cultural context, their beliefs," said Ribera.

Ulf Kristersson, prime minister of Sweden, also called on the European Union to suspend the trade section of its association agreement with Israel in a post on X on July 31.

"The situation in Gaza is absolutely appalling, and Israel is failing to fulfil its most basic obligations and agreements on emergency aid," said Kristersson as he called on the Israeli government to allow "unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza".

Meanwhile, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel Thursday where he is expected to meet with Netanyahu amid Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

At least 101 Palestinians, including 81 aid seekers, have been killed and 625 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24 hours, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday, citing Gaza health sources.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 60,000 Palestinians and injured 146,894 others since Oct 7 2023 while the total number of aid seekers killed since May 27 when Israel introduced a new aid distribution mechanism has reached 1,320, with more than 8,818 injured.

jan@chinadailyapac.com