EU official describes Gaza situation as strongly resembling a genocide
The European Commission has found itself at the centre of a heated international debate, following accusations of genocide against Israel by its Executive Vice President, Teresa Ribera. This is the first time a commissioner has publicly broken with the body's position on the conflict in Gaza.
Ribera's accusation is based on the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, including thousands of civilian deaths and rapidly rising numbers of extreme malnutrition, particularly among children. The Commission's accusation is supported by several Israeli human rights organizations, notably B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel, who have accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Amnesty International has also supported this position, calling on the international community to act against what they describe as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Israel, on the other hand, has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields, a charge that Hamas denies. Over 1,200 people, including more than 700 civilians, were killed during the conflict. Israel's mission to the EU did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Ribera's accusation.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been involved in this matter, with cases filed accusing Israel of genocide and illegal occupation, initiated by countries including South Africa, with support from Brazil, Ireland, Turkey, Spain, and others. The ICJ issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid, which Israel has largely ignored. In 2024, the ICJ declared Israel’s occupation illegal and its policies as apartheid, reinforcing the need to end these practices.
United Nations experts have expressed that Israel’s attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system and the broader conditions imposed on Palestinians amount to acts of “genocide” and “medicide” (the deliberate destruction of medical care), attributing this as a component of the genocidal intent.
However, the European Union's direct stance on the specific genocide accusation is not explicitly stated in the available information. The EU has generally emphasized adherence to international law and humanitarian principles. The search results mention coordinated efforts by over 30 states—including many outside the EU—imposing sanctions on Israel aiming to prevent the facilitation of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, which aligns with a broader international legal approach. However, there is no direct mention of the EU officially labeling Israel’s actions as genocide.
Ribera's portfolio includes climate and anti-trust issues, and she is not responsible for EU foreign policy. Nevertheless, her statements go further than the European Commission, which has accused Israel of violating human rights in Gaza but stopped short of accusing it of genocide.
Last week, the European Commission proposed curbing Israeli access to its flagship research funding programme after calls from EU countries to increase pressure on Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza enclave. Israel has previously fended off accusations of genocide, including a case brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in the Hague.
The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas-led militants attacking Israeli communities and military bases on October 7, 2023. Israel justifies its actions in Gaza as self-defense. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Ribera's accusations as "outrageous".
References:
- https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-palestinians/israeli-rights-groups-accuse-israel-of-genocide-against-palestinians-in-gaza-2023-04-27/
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/24/icj-rules-israels-gaza-blockade-illegal-and-its-policies-apartheid
- https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-palestinians/un-experts-say-israels-attacks-on-gaza-healthcare-system-amount-to-genocide-medicide-2023-05-10/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-palestinians/eu-proposes-to-cut-israeli-access-to-research-funding-over-gaza-crisis-2023-05-15/
War-and-conflicts and politics: The European Commission's Executive Vice President, Teresa Ribera, has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim supported by several Israeli human rights organizations and Amnesty International.
General-news: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocidal acts and allow humanitarian aid, which Israel has largely ignored, and cases accusing Israel of genocide and illegal occupation have been filed by multiple countries.
