Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has described as “disgraceful” the lack of pressure exerted by the European Union on Israel as the International Court of Justice finds that famine is already setting in for the people of Gaza.
The Fianna Fáil MEP has welcomed the UN Court’s ruling yesterday, ordering Israel to unblock the delivery of basic services and humanitarian assistance to Gaza, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements.
“It is nothing short of a disgrace that the European Union continues to exert minimal pressure on Israel in the face of mounting international criticism, even from Israel’s allies such as the US. We cannot continue in this ‘business as usual’ manner. Words cannot do the gravity of this situation justice. We are witnessing one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history,” MEP Andrews said.“Among other important updates, the ICJ has noted that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing a risk of famine but that this famine is already setting in. "The ICJ’s ruling comes on top of the UN Special Rapporteur’s Report on the Palestinian Territories, published on Monday, which finds that that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating Israel’s commission of genocide is met.
"Certain EU member states continue to block increased action on Israel, all the while continuing to supply the Israeli Defence Forces. Thes countries must now look at themselves and ask whether they may be complicit in the genocide of Palestinians.”MEP Andrews welcomed the Irish Government’s decision to intervene in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice:“With well over a million Gazans now facing imminent famine, this intervention is the right step for Ireland. It could have happened earlier, but it is welcome nonetheless. Ireland must continue to push for a permanent ceasefire, the opening of more border crossings and a rapid increase in the flow of humanitarian aid. While these conditions are not met, Ireland must push for an arms embargo to Israel as well as the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.”
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