4 days ago
Socalists, Greens and Left MEPs call for action on Gaza ‘genocide'
The European Parliament's Socialists and Greens have signed up to a statement with the Left that accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, and calls on the EU's leadership to take urgent action.
"There is clear evidence that a genocide is being committed in Gaza," the letter obtained by Euractiv states. "The European Commission and the European Council have so far failed to respond with the urgency and resolve that our treaties, values and responsibilities demand."
It is signed by the leaders of the three political groups, the S&D's Iratxe García, the Greens' co-leaders Bas Eickhout and Terry Reintke and the Left's co-leaders Manon Aubry and Martin Schirdewan, and it is addressed to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The letter makes eight demands to the EU's leadership, including immediately suspending the bloc's special trade relationship with Israel, stopping weapons sales from the EU, expanding sanctions on West Bank settlers, and approving targeted sanctions on Israeli authorities which break international law.
The letter is a significant ramping up of pressure from the Parliament since it is signed by two groups – the Socialists and the Greens – who have strong contingents of MEPs from Germany, a country that has been Israel's strongest ally in the EU, and has shielded it in Brussels, among some other countries, from any sanctions so far.
(jp)
