Hamas attacks in Israel have drawn unanimous condemnation from the so-called international community. A day later, a year ago now, the seams began to show when Benjamin Netanyahu unleashed a massacre in Gaza that has already left more than 42,000 people dead. The EU’s response was lukewarm from the outset in recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense and the first signs of division emerged days later when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen s visited Israel and gave his unconditional support. for the far-right leader, from whom European partners were already demanding respect for international and humanitarian law, which prevents him – in theory – from attacking the civilian population.
The EU is moving slowly as the Middle East conflict drags on, largely because of differences within the EU club, which took five months to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where 30,000 people were already dead. The decision was blocked for a month by Hungary, which is one of the countries most aligned with Netanyahu, and this step was only taken when the United States promoted a resolution to this effect within the Nations United.
Spain and Ireland are the countries, along with Belgium, which have maintained a tougher stance towards the Israeli government – which has caused them diplomatic conflicts. Madrid and Dublin proposed a review of the trade deal in February to give Tel Aviv a slap on the wrist for human rights violations in Gaza. The proposal was received coldly by the rest of the partners and, three months later, they decided to take the decision to summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs within the framework of this treaty to reproach him for having ignored the resolution of the order of international justice aimed at stopping the offensive. Rafah. The invitation was not accepted and the case remains in a drawer, even as the capitals most aligned with Israel, such as Berlin, warn that the case cannot become a “court” against this country.
The last to raise his voice was Emmanuel Macron, who proposed stopping the supply of arms to Israel (the arms embargo has been a demand of left-wing forces for months) in a message addressed in particular to the United States. United, which are the main supplier. “France is not doing it,” said the French president, against whom Netanyahu revolted. Spain, for example, also paralyzed licenses intended for that country, but allowed previously contracted shipments to be carried out.
Along with Hungary and Germany, the Czech Republic is one of the main protectors of Tel Aviv within the EU. He recently blocked a resolution referring to restraint in the face of the imminent invasion of Lebanon. The text limited itself to saying that such a military intervention “would considerably worsen the situation and should be avoided”. Hours later, this operation took place and silence reigned in most European capitals, until the next day, when Iran responded with missiles on Israel.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has remained silent on the attack on Lebanon, issued a statement saying that “such actions [en referencia al ataque de Teherán] They threaten regional stability and increase tensions in an already extremely volatile situation. “I urge all parties to protect the lives of innocent civilians. » “The European Union continues to call for a ceasefire on the border with Lebanon and in Gaza, as well as the release of all hostages held for almost a year,” he said. he added.
On the anniversary of the attacks, von der Leyen attended a ceremony at a Brussels synagogue in which she condemned the Hamas attacks and called for the protection of “all victims”, without ever mentioning the attacks. of Netanyahu. “It’s time to end the bloodshed.” It is time to break the dangerous cycle of attacks and reprisals through de-escalation across the region. May the violence finally end at the start of this new year. Let the hostages finally return home. And may there finally be peace and security for the people of Israel, Gaza and Lebanon,” he expressed.
Borrell regrets division and criticizes Netanyahu
If the German expresses the opinion of certain capitals (even if foreign policy does not correspond to it and must be consensual), the high representative, Josep Borrell, leads the most critical voices towards Netanyahu, whom he has reprimanded for not respecting international and humanitarian law, and even today defends himself against sending weapons to Israel. “No matter what you tell him, he does what he wants,” he admitted on Friday in an interview with Onda Cero in which he recalled that diplomacy had been working on “persuasion” since the start of the war in Gaza: “The result “It’s like someone who hears rain.
Borrell attributes the failure of the EU’s efforts largely to its “deep division.” “The United States and some European countries are not willing to take any action that could constitute a condition for Israel,” Borrell acknowledged: “We cannot compare the intensity of the attacks on one side and the other, but Iran is wrong to continue this rise. With every action comes an infinitely more powerful reaction.
And their work seems, on many occasions, practically didactic, as happened this Monday during a debate in the European Parliament entitled “One year after the Hamas attacks of October 7” during which Borrell, aware of the the alignment of the right and the far right with Israel, began by recalling that this was the worst tragedy suffered by the Jewish people since the Holocaust and demanded the immediate release of the hostages, but took advantage of the opportunity to question the expansion of the war to other territories, such as Lebanon, and appealed to Israel’s “limits” in its right to self-defense.
“In a war, there are neither good nor bad victims, there are simply civilian victims, whether Israeli or Palestinian,” he said in an open speech after a minute of silence for the victims of these attacks, a difference compared to the 42,000 deaths. in Gaza, which testify to “the hypocrisy of the European elite”, as denounced by Podemos MEP Irene Montero.
“If we don’t stop this with diplomacy and a peace proposal, the children of outrage will react, but not in a positive way. Let us remember that ISIS was born after the invasion of Iraq,” said Hanna Jalloul, PSOE representative. Sumar’s spokesperson, Estrella Galán, defended the arms embargo against Israel. “Netanyahu does not care about Israeli casualties, he cares about staying in power,” he said in reference to his intention to declare a “regional war.” “How far are we going to leave it?” “It is the greatest threat to peace on the planet,” he concluded.
Podemos MEP Irene Montero declared: “We want to denounce the hypocrisy and complicity of the European elite with the genocidal state of Israel. Holding a minute of silence today only for certain victims, denying the same recognition and respect to the more than 42,000 Palestinian victims as well as the victims of Lebanon, is not only a sample of hypocrisy on the part of European elites, but also shows their complicity with the genocide.
“Too many people have died without solutions being found,” lamented Ana Miranda (BNG). But the division was evident in the European Parliament.
The spokesperson for the European People’s Party, Daniel Caspary (German CDU), said that “the response is sometimes too brutal”, while justifying the attacks. “Whoever owns barracks and arsenals in civilian neighborhoods must take responsibility for civilian deaths,” he said, referring to Hezbollah.
The far right, for its part, has questioned the EU’s support for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which it attempts to link to Hamas. Marine Le Pen’s heir apparent, Jordan Bardella, linked European funds to the terrorist organization, despite a European Commission investigation which concluded there was no problem. “The auditors must be dumber than you, Mr. Bardella, they will have less information,” Borrell reproached him, calling on him to present “proof”: “Otherwise, I hope you will withdraw this accusation.”
