The genocidal Israeli war against the Palestinian people must be stopped
The European-Palestinian Council for Political Relations (EUPAC), Brussels
This EUPAC’s statement was sent to the Hungarian Presidency, The EU Commission, EEAS and DEPAL
The genocidal Israeli war against the Palestinian people must be stopped
The crimes committed against the Palestinian people have continued for more than 76 years, killing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and displacing them from their lands and homes. Newcomers have been settled by confiscating lands, demolishing homes, stealing water, obstructing movement, besieging cities, preventing access to food, medicine, and education, inflicting psychological and actual intimidation, and conducting arrests both legally and outside the law.
Since October 8, the level of Israeli crime has escalated beyond the levels of world wars and the most dangerous global conflicts. This war of genocide is being committed in plain sight, with statistics showing the killing of more than 40,000 Palestinians, including more than thirty thousand children and women. Tens of thousands have disappeared, including thousands kidnapped by the occupation and forcibly taken to Israel, among them children abducted from Gaza to unknown locations inside the occupying state. Over 70 percent of the Gaza Strip has been destroyed, making the region unviable, while the Israeli government plans to establish military bases and return settlers to it, mirroring the catastrophe that afflicted Palestinians 76 years ago. This continues despite all international resolutions, courts, human rights agreements, political and military tactics, economic agreements, the language of interests, and diplomatic speeches.
We listened to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the occupation on the nineteenth of this month, requested by the United Nations. The occupying state anticipated this announcement with a decision by the Israeli Knesset stipulating that a Palestinian state will not be established on (the land of Israel). The core issue is that the occupying state does not recognize any right of the Palestinian people to their land, preceding any discussion on the establishment of a state.
We read with you the statement of Mr. Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in this regard:
“In a world of constant and increasing violations of international law, it is our moral duty to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to all ICJ decisions in a consistent manner, irrespective of the subject in question. The ICJ Advisory Opinion will need to be analysed more thoroughly, including in view of its implications for EU policy.”
Despite acknowledging the illegitimacy of the occupation and recognizing that all territories occupied in 1967, including Jerusalem, are occupied territory, the European Union continues to cooperate, partner, and invest with the occupying state while excluding any talk of sanctions as a tool to confront the occupation’s crimes.
In its relationship with the Palestinians, the European Union still believes that the two-state solution is the guarantor of preventing crimes without implementing it, leaving Palestinians to bear the consequences of crimes while waiting for a solution rejected by the occupier. The EU tries to compensate with financial aid or sending medicines and tents to the displaced without preventing displacement and using its tools to achieve this. Additionally, the EU does not recognize the Palestinian right to resist the occupation, criminalizing forms of legitimate resistance according to international law, and pressures Palestinians economically to change curricula and tame a people to accept their occupiers.
The solution is not to improve the conditions of Palestinians under occupation or force them to accept the occupation that kills them daily, steals their lands, and deprives them of everything. The solution lies in seriously working to end the occupation and achieving freedom, independence, and dignity for the Palestinians.
The Palestinians are waiting for justice in dealing with the issue of Israeli hostages by demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners, including those administratively detained and kidnapped by the occupation in Israeli military bases without any reasons, including children.
We call on the European Union and all its institutions and member states to review their policies related to the Palestinian issue, especially after the recent European elections and the appointment of senior figures in the European Union institutions.
These policies must align with international laws, human rights agreements, and local European laws that require member states to completely stop working with Israeli settlements, refrain from providing any aid or cooperation that serves the occupation and punish Israeli and dual European-Israeli perpetrators of war crimes.
Chairman of EUPAC
Majed Al Zeer
For contact or further information: Coordinator EUPAC, Ahmed Frassini