EU's Borrell Calls for Accountability over Israeli War Crimes
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed a range of measures to address alleged Israeli violations of international law in Gaza and Lebanon, emphasizing the need for a shift in the bloc’s approach to maintain credibility.
Borrell criticized the bloc’s leniency towards Israel, stressing that meaningful consequences are long overdue for the regime's war crimes in Gaza and Lebanon.
In a statement, Borrell proposed several actions, including banning imports from Israel and suspending political dialogue, to confront the regime’s violations of international laws.
“The EU’s approach must change,” Borrell said, adding that even-handedness is crucial for Europe’s credibility on the global stage.
He underscored the protection of healthcare workers and facilities in conflict zones as a non-negotiable principle of international humanitarian law.
Borrell further condemned the killing of 12 paramedics in an Israeli strike near Baalbek, labeling it a grave breach of human dignity and international law.
“This pattern of targeting healthcare mirrors appalling trends in other conflicts, from Syria to Ukraine or Sudan,” he said.
“Whether it is reckless disregard or deliberate targeting, this is a blatant assault on human dignity, endangering lives, and flagrantly violating fundamental human rights,” he added.
The EU’s Foreign Affairs Council is expected to discuss Borrell’s proposals next week, potentially shaping the bloc’s stance on Israel's military actions.
Israel launched the war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas waged the surprise operation against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's decades-long campaign of bloodletting and devastation against Palestinians.
The regime’s bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed more than 43,730 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured over 103,000 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.