Israel/Gaza: Speech by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in the EP plenary on the ongoing conflict

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Israel/Gaza: Speech by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell in the EP plenary on the ongoing conflict

17.09.2024 EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, on behalf of High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

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Madame President, Honourable Members [of the European Parliament],

The last European Parliament Plenary to discuss this desperate humanitarian crisis took place in April. Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate dramatically. So far, more than 41,000 people have been killed and a further 94,000 have been injured in Gaza. Almost 2 million people are internally displaced. 495,000 are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, while 745,000 face emergency levels of food insecurity. And 86% of Gaza Strip remains under Israeli evacuation orders.

I could go on with these harrowing statistics.

It is nearly a year now since the brutal and indiscriminate Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel and the beginning of the war in Gaza. For many months, we have remained steadfast in our call to reach an immediate ceasefire, unconditional release of all hostages, and protection of civilians. Today, this call is more urgent than ever.

In Gaza, the collapse of the sanitation, waste management and health systems, coupled with summer heat and overcrowded conditions in the camps, has led to severe and widespread disease outbreaks including hepatitis A, polio, and skin and respiratory infections, affecting children in particular.

Violence and obstruction continue to impede humanitarian workers efforts to support those in need.

Despite extremely dangerous conditions and severely constrained humanitarian access both into and within Gaza, our humanitarian partners are working around the clock alongside local Palestinian organisations risking their lives, trying to deliver critical support to Palestinians in need.

Sadly, and absolutely unacceptable, the Gaza Strip has seen a globally unprecedented death toll among UN personnel and other aid workers since October.

Humanitarian access must be granted as according to international humanitarian law; and must not be used as a political tool. Israel has a legal responsibility to ensure [that] humanitarian organisations have safe access to those in need, as recalled by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its advisory opinion, and in line with several UN Security Council resolutions.

We, therefore, reiterate our call to all parties to abide by international law and, in particular, international humanitarian law.

The United Nations, and in particular UNRWA, are irreplaceable when it comes to the humanitarian response in Gaza. Their mandate must be respected, and we will continue to support them.

On a rare positive note, I am glad that the World Health Organisation with its anti-polio vaccination campaign has exceeded its target. The first round of campaign has now concluded across Gaza, successfully. And the round two for administering the second dose of vaccine is set to begin in four weeks' time.

It is significant that the parties have understood the crucial necessity of this campaign. And this anti-polio vaccination campaign is a good example of how political will - when it is there - can enable such operations, and the proof that the constructive dialogue is possible.

Since we last discussed this tragedy back in April, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has also seen a surge in violence. Demolitions, construction of illegal settlements, and forced displacement of resident Palestinians and refugees; all of this is on the rise, as are terrorist attacks against Israelis. There have been over 600 Palestinian killed, including more than 100 children, this year alone in the West Bank.

The European Union has already imposed sanctions on some of the leaders of the extremist settlers and relevant entities. Furthermore, discussions are currently ongoing in the Council following High Representative [Josep] Borrell's proposalto impose sanctions against violent settler enablers, including two ministers for their public incitement to violence against Palestinians civilians.

While we strive to solve the immediate problems, we must also continue our outreach in favour of the two-state solution. Next week, During the UN General Assembly high-level week, High Representative Borrell, alongside the Arab League/OIC conference contact group and Norway, will co-host a high-level meeting to revive a political process. A process that includes all stakeholders and aims for the peaceful and secure coexistence of two states, Israel and Palestine.

As part of our efforts in favour of the two-state solution, we need to continue to support the Palestinian Authority, including through its reform process. The European Union is the biggest provider of external assistance to the Palestinian Authority. In a sign of our commitment, the [European] Commission has adopted an emergency packageof €400 million for 2024, of which over €272.5 million has already been disbursed.

We strongly believe that the return of the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza is the only viable solution.

Finally, the risk of regional escalation from Iran, or its affiliated groups in the region, further highlights the importance of reaching a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, and the importance of working on the resumption of a political process. The European Union is ready to work with all relevant actors towards this goal.

Thank you.

Link to the video (starting at 1:50) : https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-260551

Closing remarks

President, Honourable Members,

Thank you for this very useful exchange.

I would like to avoid repeating what I already said in my introduction, but I would like to underline what are our immediate priorities. They are full and safe humanitarian access to all those who need humanitarian aid within Gaza; ceasefire; release of hostages, and preparations for the day after.

And the European Commission and the High Representative have been active on all these issues. The European Commission is the leading humanitarian donor to Palestinians.

We support the ongoing efforts by the United States, Egypt and Qatar to reach a long overdue a deal on ceasefire and hostage and we are preparing for the Day After.

And we are also calling on our Arab and other international partners to assume their share of the responsibilities on all these issues. And as I said already, the Palestinian Authority, despite its difficult financial situation and its demanding work on reforms, is the only viable solution for the future of Gaza. We will do our best to support the Palestinian Authority in this path.

And again, the European Union and its member states are the leading supporters financially and politically of the Palestinian Authority.

It is also important to continue our diplomatic outreach towards de-escalation in the wider region, engaging with all our key partners there. And we are doing that.

And finally, we also are trying to restart difficult discussions on a sustainable, just, and comprehensive solution for Israel and Palestine. And as many of you said today, the only solution is the two-state solution.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-260553