Newsletters
The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution condemning what it called Israel's obstruction of humanitarian aid to Gaza, marking a significant escalation in European criticism of Israel's conduct in the ongoing conflict.
The resolution, which passed with 305 votes in favor, 151 against and 122 abstentions during the parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg, accused the Israeli government of "engineering a famine in Northern Gaza" through its restrictions on humanitarian assistance.
Members of the European Parliament expressed alarm over severe food shortages and malnutrition in the territory, demanding immediate restoration of vital infrastructure and calling for "full, safe, and unhindered access" to essential supplies including food, water, medical equipment and shelter.
The resolution endorsed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Wednesday announcement to suspend EU bilateral support to Israel and partially suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement on trade matters. Von der Leyen had declared during her State of the Union address that the Commission would "put our bilateral support to Israel on hold" while continuing work with Israeli civil society.
"We will stop all payments in these areas without affecting our work with Israeli civil society," von der Leyen said, outlining what she described as a comprehensive package of measures in response to the crisis.
The parliamentary resolution went further, calling for targeted sanctions against Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom European lawmakers identified as extremist figures. The body also supported existing EU sanctions on violent Israeli settlers and activists in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
While condemning Hamas for using civilians as human shields, parliamentarians stressed that "Israel's right to defend itself cannot justify indiscriminate military action in Gaza."
1 min read
The resolution expressed concern over continuous military operations that have caused what lawmakers termed "unbearable suffering for civilian population."
The parliament called for immediate restoration of the UN Relief and Works Agency's full mandate and funding, with enhanced oversight mechanisms, while opposing current aid distribution systems in Gaza. Lawmakers demanded that all relevant border crossings be reopened to facilitate humanitarian deliveries.
Beyond immediate humanitarian concerns, the resolution pushed for broader accountability measures, calling for comprehensive investigations into alleged war crimes and violations of international law by all parties. The parliament insisted that those responsible must be held accountable through proper legal channels.
The European lawmakers also renewed calls for diplomatic initiatives toward establishing a two-state solution, timing their appeal ahead of the September UN General Assembly session. The resolution stated that Palestinian statehood remains "key to peace, Israel's security, and regional normalisation," urging EU member states to consider formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
2 min read
