Brussels – A half-hearted call for a cease-fire, meeting the Israeli government’s rules. The European Parliament resolution, which was supposed to call loudly for an end to the bombing of the Gaza Strip, is a misfire. Conditions set by the populars prevail: a ceasefire only after the unconditional release of hostages and the dismantling of Hamas.
“Impossible” conditions, commented Italian Democratic Party delegation leader Brando Benifei. In the original text, drafted by social democrats, liberals, and greens, the call for the release of the 140 hostages still in the hands of Hamas and the destruction of the terrorist organization had been included and to be achieved “in the context” of a ceasefire. But by only 15 votes—257 yes, 242 no and 17 abstentions—the amendment proposed by the European People’s Party was approved. Fatal was the split among the Renew liberals, who in turn had tabled a compromise amendment in which the cessation of hostilities was to be pursued “in parallel” with the two conditions.
A ceasefire conditional on achieving these goals is “inapplicable in practice,” Benifei said, and ultimately supports “the continued bombardment of Gaza,” which has caused over 24,000 casualties in just over 100 days. The second non-binding resolution since the start of the conflict, adopted by 312 votes to 131 with 72 abstentions, thus lost significance. Also included in the text are several amendments signed by European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) that emphasize the co-responsibility of Hamas in the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
“Putting conditions on stopping a massacre does no credit to the EPP,” is the sad observation made to Eunews by the Palestinian Authority’s ambassador to Brussels, Adel Atieh, who harshly accuses the European right: “These positions are unfortunately still based on Arabophobic and Islamophobic considerations. There can be no conditions to stop slaughtering women and children.”
Hard line against extremist Israeli settlers and support for the two-state solution
Israeli military response to the Oct. 7 attacks, however, is unabashedly called “disproportionate”: Israel has the right to defend itself within the bounds of international law, the MPs point out, which implies that “all parties to the conflict must distinguish, at all times, between combatants and civilians, that attacks must be directed exclusively at military targets.”
From Strasbourg, on the other hand, comes a clear call to Brussels to put in place a European initiative that can revive the two-state solution, “based on the 1967 borders and with two democratic states living side by side in peace and security.” And to establish a sanctions regime against extremist Israeli settlers who violate human rights and international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, since “Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal under international law.”
Little or no mention of the procedure initiated by South Africa in The Hague to investigate the alleged crime of genocide committed by Israel: finally, the resolution stresses the EU’s strong support for the work of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and calls for those responsible for terrorist acts and violations of international law to be held accountable.
