In response to the EU’s foreign affairs ministers meeting to discuss the list of options for political action against Israel, Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam’s Policy Lead in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza, said:
“Every day that passes without real action means more death and destruction. Yet, once again, Europe is kicking the can down the road.
“The recent aid deal may have been a step, but, in reality, it is mere breadcrumbs. Aid alone cannot stop this catastrophe. We cannot continue to watch children killed and say ‘we are making progress’. We cannot watch food rot in aid trucks while people starve and say ‘this is working.’
“The EU cannot continue to maintain full ties with a government it acknowledges may be violating EU human rights principles, while offering humanitarian aid with one hand and enabling impunity with the other.
“We do not need another cautious statement nor another backroom deal. We need real leadership and decisive action. Enough of passing the buck. Enough of the delay. Enough of the bloodshed.”
Notes to editors
EU foreign affairs ministers met today for the Foreign Affairs Council. At the meeting, EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Kaja Kallas, presented a list of options to EU foreign affairs ministers including the full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner.
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement states “Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.” Israel’s well-documented violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, violate Article 2.
On Thursday, the EU and Israel agreed on steps that include “the substantial increase of daily trucks for food and non-food items to enter Gaza, the opening of several other crossing points in both the northern and southern areas; the reopening of the Jordanian and Egyptian aid routes” among other items.
Beyond suspending this agreement, Oxfam is calling for a permanent ceasefire, safe and unhindered humanitarian aid, an end to illegal Israeli occupation and a halt in all arm sales and transfers to Israel while there is a risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.
Contact information
Jade Tenwick | Brussels, Belgium | jade.tenwick@oxfam.org | mobile +32 473 56 22 60 | Personal (WhatsApp only) +32 484 81 22 94
For more information on our work and to see our latest press releases, please visit oxfam.org/eu.
For updates, follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.
EU foreign affairs ministers met today for the Foreign Affairs Council. At the meeting, EU Foreign Affairs Chief, Kaja Kallas, presented a list of options to EU foreign affairs ministers including the full or partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner.
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement states “Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.” Israel’s well-documented violations of international humanitarian law and human rights, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, violate Article 2.
On Thursday, the EU and Israel agreed on steps that include “the substantial increase of daily trucks for food and non-food items to enter Gaza, the opening of several other crossing points in both the northern and southern areas; the reopening of the Jordanian and Egyptian aid routes” among other items.
Beyond suspending this agreement, Oxfam is calling for a permanent ceasefire, safe and unhindered humanitarian aid, an end to illegal Israeli occupation and a halt in all arm sales and transfers to Israel while there is a risk they are used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law.
Jade Tenwick | Brussels, Belgium | jade.tenwick@oxfam.org | mobile +32 473 56 22 60 | Personal (WhatsApp only) +32 484 81 22 94
For more information on our work and to see our latest press releases, please visit oxfam.org/eu.
For updates, follow us on Twitter, BlueSky and LinkedIn.