Eduardo González
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadkar, have asked the European Commission to “undertake an urgent review” of Israel’s compliance with its human rights obligations derived from the EU/Israel Association Agreement, “and if it considers that it is in breach, that it proposes appropriate measures to the Council to consider.”
“We are deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza, especially the impact the ongoing conflict is having on innocent Palestinians, especially children and women,” begins the joint letter from the socialist Pedro Sánchez and the conservative Christian Democrat Leo Varadkar, sent yesterday to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, with a copy to the High Representative of EU Foreign and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Josep Borrell. “The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront,” it adds.
“We have repeatedly expressed our total condemnation of Hamas’ indiscriminate terrorist attacks of October 7th and call for the immediate and unconditional release of remaining hostages,” the letter continues. Likewise, it continues, “we have been equally clear that Israel has a right to defend itself from such attacks, but this may only be exercised in line with international law, including International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and international human rights law.”
In this sense, Sánchez and Varadkar recall that “IHL imposes a clear obligation on all parties, to all conflicts, to ensure the protection of civilians.” “The horrendous terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other armed groups do not, and cannot, justify any breaches of IHL in the military response, with the resulting consequences for the civilian population of Gaza,” they warn.
Despite this, the letter denounces, “almost 28,000 Palestinians have been killed, and more than 67,000 are injured, and we have witnessed the displacement of 1.9 million people (85% of the population) within Gaza and the wholesale destruction of homes and extensive damage to vital civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.”
The letter also refers to the concerns expressed by the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, about “the appalling human suffering, physical destruction and collective trauma of civilians” in Gaza and recalls the “binding provisional measures” imposed on January 26 by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to Israel “within the provisions of the Genocide Convention.”
“Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe posed by the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, and given what has occurred, and continues to occur in Gaza since October 2023, including widespread concern about possible breaches of IHL and international human rights law by Israel, we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship; and if it considers that it is in breach, that it proposes appropriate measures to the Council to consider,” write Pedro Sánchez and Leo Varadkar.
“Finally, we must not lose sight of the pressing need for a political perspective to end the conflict. The implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to make sure this cycle of violence does not repeat itself. The EU has a responsibility to take action to make this a reality, in coordination with the parties and the international community, including through an international peace conference, as agreed by the European Council on 26 October,” the letter concludes.
Díaz announces a trip to Palestine and Albares questions it
On the other hand, the leader of Sumar and second vice president and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, announced yesterday her intention to travel to Palestine. “I have just concluded a trip, a visit with my counterpart to Palestine (Nasri Abu Jaish) to precisely demand a ceasefire in Palestine,” she told the media from the Sumar headquarters. On the trip, she said, she will “sign a memorandum of working collaboration” with her counterpart, but she will also “denounce the barbarity that is being committed there and demand a ceasefire.”
“We are witnessing a violation of international legality, a flagrant violation of human rights, with an international community that is being truly hypocritical,” she continued. “It is very good that we ask the EU to get more involved, but I think our country can also do more,” she added, referring to the letter from Sánchez and Varadkar.
Sources from Díaz’s team, cited by the Europa Press agency, assured that, as required, she will inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both the trip and her agenda to prepare the Embassies. However, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, declared yesterday in Lugo that his Department is not “preparing any trip for the second vice president.” “The person who has traveled to Israel and Palestine has been the President of the Government and I have traveled extensively through the region in recent weeks and I will continue to do so,” he added.
