Israel enters Gaza City, for UN “it is genocide.” EU, first economic sanctions tomorrow

Brussels – After days of intense aerial bombardment, with the first light of dawn, Israel kicked off the ground operation in Gaza City. An invasion condemned by all, but which Tel Aviv can carry out thanks to the unconditional support of the United States. The EU stands by, helpless, and tries to extricate itself from accusations of complicity by announcing that it is ready to put the first political and economic sanctions on the table against its Israeli ally. 

In Gaza City, already the most populous city in the Strip before the conflict, almost one million people had found refuge after Israel razed about 70 per cent of the buildings from north to south of the Palestinian enclave. On 10 September, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) denounced the “dangerous escalation in Gaza City” and warned: “Almost one million people now find themselves without safe or viable options: neither the north nor the south offers security.” Tel Aviv said that 40 per cent of the inhabitants had left the city in preparation for the operation. This means that about half a million remained. 

For the Israeli army, it is in Gaza City that “between two and three thousand” Hamas militants are hiding. And Israeli hostages are still in the hands of the terrorist group. Foreign Minister Israel Katz declared that if Hamas does not release the hostages, “the Strip will be destroyed.” According to Al Jazeera, at least 68 people have died in Gaza City since this morning. The families of the Israeli hostages themselves have reportedly declared a “state of emergency” for the Israeli offensive and set up an encampment outside Netanyahu’s residence. 

“As Israel intensifies its operations in Gaza City, the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law must remain our compass, just days before key talks with partners at the UN General Assembly in New York,” said EU Crisis Management Commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, in a post on X. The emblem of the failure of the EU’s policy to date is precisely that agreement on the protection of civilians and the entry of humanitarian aid reached only two months ago with Israel. An understanding made to save face, but which has had no effect. An understanding that even today, faced with the entry of Israeli tanks into a densely populated area, Brussels does not repudiate: “We continue to evaluate its effects,” said Anouar El Anouni, spokesperson for the European Commission, recalling that its implementation remains complex due to “a context of war.” 

In the face of growing indignation and mobilisation of European public opinion, Ursula von der Leyen announced last week to be at work to increase the pressure on the Israeli government. The package of measures is ready: the European Commission has confirmed that tomorrow it will adopt a proposal to suspend bilateral support to Israel (approximately €30 million), a proposal to suspend certain trade provisions of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and, finally, a proposal to sanction certain ministers of Netanyahu’s government. If in the first case the EU executive can proceed independently, in the second it will need the support of two-thirds of the member states and in the third even the unanimity of the 27. 

So far, Israel has been deaf to any calls from the European Union, the United Nations and the entire international community. Even the US is unable to contain Netanyahu’s murderous escapades, as demonstrated by the Israeli raid on Doha on 9 September. “The EU has repeatedly urged Israel not to escalate its operation in Gaza city,” El Anouni said, adding that it “will lead to further destruction, deaths, and displacement, exacerbating the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and endangering the lives of hostages.” London called the offensive “totally irresponsible and appalling,” and Berlin called it “completely wrong.” 

Just today, an independent UN Commission of Inquiry established—confirming the thesis that UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has been making for over a year—that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, with the “intent to destroy the Palestinians.” According to the team led by Navi Pillay, Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are also responsible for “incitement to genocide.” Israel rejected the report’s conclusions and accused the UN experts of being “Hamas’ representatives.”