Thursday, 21 November 2024, Dublin
Today, European Movement Ireland launches a report highlighting the European Union’s failure to respond to Israel’s ongoing military assaults in Gaza and Lebanon and outlines its obligations to uphold international law. Hamas’ attacks on 7 October 2023 resulted in the killings of approximately 1,200 Israeli citizens and the abduction of 252 hostages. Israel responded with a complete siege of Gaza – cutting off fuel, water, and food – and the relentless bombardment of civilians and civilian infrastructure, leading to the killings of at least 43,000 Palestinians to date and the destruction of Gaza.
While the EU rightly condemned Hamas and other armed groups for the atrocities committed on 7 October, it has yet to equally recognise and condemn the atrocity crimes committed by Israel. As one of the world’s most important geopolitical actors, the EU’s inaction has been striking. It has been marred by internal political division, preventing the consensus required to act decisively as a unified bloc to halt Israel’s ongoing grave violations of international law in Gaza and Lebanon.
Deputy CEO and Head of Policy and Research at European Movement Ireland, Lorna Hayes said; “The European Union’s inability to take decisive action in response to Israel’s grave violations undermines its credibility as a defender of international law. European Movement Ireland’s report highlights the regrettable failure of the EU to use its influence to hold Israel accountable for violations of international humanitarian law, which has claimed the lives of over 17,000 children as part of the broader death toll, displaced approximately 90% of the population in Gaza, and has pushed the Strip to the brink of famine.”
The EU’s leadership has been hampered by its inability to achieve consensus amongst all member states. For instance, the European Council was unable to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas for five months. Meanwhile, the European Commission has yet to respond to Spain and Ireland’s request for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
According to Deputy CEO, Lorna Hayes, “The EU’s ability to lead on this issue has been sadly undermined by internal divisions, with Member State vetoes blocking decisive action. Despite this paralysis, the EU must uphold its own values. The EU-Israel Association Agreement is explicitly tied to respect for human rights, and Israel’s actions have breached these commitments. It is essential that the EU reviews this agreement to demonstrate that its economic partnerships cannot come at the expense of international law.”
The EU remains Israel’s largest trading partner and accounted for 31.3% of the country’s trade in goods in 2023 – nearly double Israel’s trade volume with the US (17.2%). The EU-Israel Association Agreement explicitly conditions this partnership on respect for human rights and democratic principles, as outlined in Article 2. Israel’s actions represent clear violations of one of the “essential elements”, requiring an immediate review of the Agreement.
On 28 May, Ireland formally recognised the State of Palestine along with Norway and Spain, establishing full diplomatic relations with Ramallah. Furthermore, Ireland’s main political parties have pledged to move forward on the issue of enacting the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) into law, following the conclusion of the upcoming general election. The onus on the Irish government to enact the bill has increased since the July International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, which deemed Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land illegal and prohibits trade or any form of assistance which helps maintain Israel’s ongoing unlawful occupation.
“The EU now faces a critical test: to fulfil its legal and moral obligations by leveraging its economic and political influence to hold Israel accountable for violations in Gaza and Lebanon. Ongoing inaction in the face of mass civilian suffering and the ICJ’s warning of a “real and imminent risk of genocide in Gaza” is not acceptable. If the EU fails to act, Member States will increasingly pursue bilateral measures, as already demonstrated by countries such as Ireland, Spain, Italy, and France. European Movement Ireland is calling on the EU to urgently call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Israel and Lebanon, the unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, and that decisive action is taken by reviewing the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel and ensuring full accountability for all violations of international law,” concluded Hayes.
Read the full report and European Movement Ireland’s recommendations to the European Union and the Irish Government: https://www.europeanmovement.ie/policy-paper-israel-lebanon-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territories/