Latest news with #CasperVeldkamp
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi, Dutch Foreign Ministers Discuss Gaza
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on Thursday received a phone call from Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Casper Veldkamp. The two foreign ministers discussed regional and international developments, mainly the situation in the Gaza Strip and its security and humanitarian repercussions.
Saba Yemen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Broad European solidarity movement in support of Palestinian people
Capitals - Saba: Over the past few days, the European position has witnessed a broad solidarity movement at both the official and popular levels in support of the Palestinian people and condemnation of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Israeli enemy in the Gaza Strip. The shift in European positions culminated when the leaders of Spain, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, and Slovenia issued a joint statement calling for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and a complete lifting of the blockade, they strongly rejected any plans for forced displacement or demographic changes in the Strip. The statement stated, "We will not stand silent in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe being perpetrated by human hands, and occurring before the eyes of the international community." The European leaders also warned that "more civilians could face starvation in the coming days and weeks unless immediate action is taken." The seven leaders stressed the need to support the United Nations and UNRWA and ensure their safe and unconditional access to those in need inside the Gaza Strip. In this regard, the Netherlands was the most vocal European country, taking a firm stance against the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, it emphasized that continued violations threaten the Association Agreement with the European Union, Article 2 of which stipulates respect for human rights and democratic principles. Dutch Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp announced in a speech that his country had "drawn a line in the sand" in protest against the Israeli blockade of Gaza, which he described as "a violation of international humanitarian law." He stressed that the "catastrophic situation in Gaza" calls for a discussion of future relations between the European Union and Israel, noting that Israel is not adhering to Article 2. He noted that the Netherlands will suspend progress on any future plans with Israel and demand an urgent review as long as it continues to block humanitarian aid. Veldkamp's comments received public support from European ministers, most notably Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevost, who stated that "what we are witnessing is an absolute disgrace, and the European Union and the entire international community must wake up." Finland also announced that it would demand a discussion of Article 2 if Israel continues to block aid. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said, "The situation cannot get any worse. Israel has not allowed food shipments into Gaza for months, and under no circumstances should the suffering of the people be politicized." She emphasized that Israel is legally and morally obligated to allow aid into Gaza. Genocide Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described Israel as a "genocidal state," stressing that his country had "suspended trade with Israel" in protest of the situation in the Gaza Strip. The European rejection did not stop with Sánchez, as French President Emmanuel Macron escalated his rhetoric against the Israeli occupation, calling in statements to the European Union to intensify pressure on Israel due to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Macron pointed out that Europeans face an open question about whether discussions and cooperation agreements with Israel should continue in their current form. Macron accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a war criminal, of adopting "unacceptable" and "shameful" behavior by obstructing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Hunger as a Weapon In contrast, French leftist MP Thomas Porte escalated his rhetoric against the occupation, threatening to bar the Israeli army's spokesperson from entering France, describing him as "the spokesman for an army of genocide." He said that his country "cannot allow this man to enter its territory, given the use of hunger as a weapon in the final stage of genocide in Gaza." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for her part, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as tragic and unjustifiable, noting the difficulty of talks with Netanyahu in light of the repeated violations of international humanitarian law. This coincided with a UN report warning that the Gaza Strip was entering a "critical famine" phase, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe. In the same speech, Berlin expressed deep concern about the situation in the Gaza Strip with Israel's announcement of expanding its offensive, considering that this threatens a further deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The German Foreign Ministry warned in a statement that expanding the Israeli offensive could "endanger the lives of the detainees still in the Strip, including the German prisoners." It added that a large-scale military offensive also carries the risk of further deteriorating the dire humanitarian situation of the Gaza population and the remaining prisoners, and with it, diminishing the prospects for reaching a permanent and urgent ceasefire. Civilian Suffering At the conclusion of the EU Foreign Ministers' meetings in Warsaw, Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, affirmed that most EU countries share deep concern about the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip, describing the situation as "unbearable." Kallas warned that the Israeli military escalation would only exacerbate the suffering of civilians, stressing the EU's rejection of any demographic or territorial change in the region. She also called for an end to the forced displacement of Palestinians, warning that such measures would only make matters worse. Meanwhile, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament issued a joint statement expressing the solidarity of the leaders of the European People's Party, the Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, the Greens/European Freedom Alliance, and the Left parties with the Palestinian people regarding Israeli practices. In a statement, the leaders of the political blocs in the European Parliament called for immediate and effective international action to alleviate the unbearable humanitarian crisis in Gaza, given the blockade imposed by the Israeli occupation, which prevents humanitarian aid from reaching civilians living in inhumane conditions. Humanitarian Tragedy In a significant development, European Council President António Costa expressed his shock at the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, amid the Israeli occupation's expansion of its military operations. Costa said in a statement, "I am shocked by the daily news coming from Gaza: civilians are starving, and hospitals are once again being bombed. The violence must stop!" He called on the Israeli occupation to "lift the blockade immediately and ensure safe, rapid, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid." He added, "What is happening in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy, an entire population is being subjected to overwhelming and disproportionate military force, and international law is being systematically violated." These advanced political positions by European countries come at a time when several European cities and capitals have witnessed demonstrations denouncing the ongoing Israeli genocide against the people of the Gaza Strip for the 19th consecutive month. Demonstrations Thousands participated in demonstrations held in the French capital, Paris; the Danish capital, Copenhagen; the Dutch city of The Hague and Amsterdam; the British city of Manchester and the capital, London; Helsingborg and the Swedish capital, Stockholm; Geneva and Basel in Switzerland; Hamburg and Stuttgart in Germany; Berlin; and the Greek capital, Athens. Participants in the demonstrations raised slogans demanding an end to military and political support for "Israel," imposing economic sanctions, banning exports to it, and holding the occupation's leaders accountable for the ongoing violations in Gaza. The numerous statements made by European Union officials regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza reflect a qualitative shift in official discourse, from silent complicity to a public warning to Israel that relations with Europe are no longer immune, and that the continuation of current policies, whether in Gaza or the West Bank, could lead to an unprecedented rift in the political and economic relationship between the two sides. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Reports)
The National
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Netherlands to rally EU support to increase pressure on Israel amid divisions across Europe
The Netherlands is set to lead efforts on Tuesday to rally support from other European Union countries to increase pressure on Israel by calling for a review of relations as Western countries increasingly criticise the expansion of its military operations in Gaza. The Dutch move has garnered strong support from human rights groups but will be no easy task due to rejection of a review by Germany and deep divisions within the bloc over the Israel-Palestine conflict. As EU foreign affairs ministers meet in Brussels on Tuesday, diplomats say that there is a chance that a majority of the EU's 27 countries will support increasing calls to re-examine Israel's compliance with human rights, which is enshrined in article two of the EU-Israel association agreement. With its nearly three month-long blockade, Israel has breached its obligations under international humanitarian law, according to The Netherlands. The UN says that widespread famine looms in Gaza. A review would be a major policy change by the EU that would be expected to infuriate Israel's leadership. "It is one of the most difficult topics on common foreign and security policy. There are lots of sensitivities involved," an EU diplomat said. The Dutch request was first made in a letter sent on May 6 by Foreign Affairs Minister Casper Veldkamp to the EU's foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas. A similar request last year lodged by Spain and Ireland failed to gain traction. But this time, two months into a total blockade of Gaza by Israel, a number of EU countries publicly rallied behind the Netherlands, including France, Portugal, Finland and Sweden. Adding to the weight of the Dutch call is its reputation as a strong Israeli ally. It is among the EU countries that has not recognised Palestine. Ms Kallas has not responded to the letter but is expected to "read the room" at the meeting before deciding how to proceed, a senior EU official said. Diplomats said that the review would be conducted by the EU Commission, but the External Action Service, presided by Ms Kallas, is also expected to play a role. The senior official pointed at the important role played by the EU-Israel association council. "The EU association Council is a framework in which we can raise messages, pleasant and less pleasant ones," they said. Meetings were suspended for a decade in 2012 due to political disagreements. The view that discussions must continue with Israel is the one put forward by its closest allies, including Germany. The Commission's powerful president, German politician Ursula von der Leyen, is a strong supporter of Israel which she has shied away from criticising. Many believe it unlikely that she would support a review of relations. "If there is a majority of member states requesting for such a review, the commission has to react: either they have to do the review, or they have to explain to the majority why they're not doing it," the EU diplomat said. Should the review go forward, its conclusions would then be submitted to the EU Council, where the 27 member states are represented. Suspending the agreement with Israel in whole necessitates unanimity. A suspension in part, including a free trade agreement, would require a qualified majority - that means the backing of 14 countries. The EU is Israel's biggest trading partner and a suspension of trading facilities would hurt the Israeli economy. But just the fact that the EU might consider a review also hurts Israel's reputation in the West. "It's clear that the prospect of a review bothers Israel," the EU diplomat said. Senior EU officials were made aware months ago of Israeli human rights violations in Gaza, according to a leaked report in December by the EU's special representative for human rights, Olof Skoog. The report said that Israel has violated international human rights by failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants in Gaza. The death toll on Monday reached 53,475 Gazans killed in Israel's retaliatory war since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks in 2023 in which around 1,200 lost their lives. The EU's inaction has been heavily criticised by human rights groups. The EU Commission had the authority to decide alone to launch a review of article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement without a request by a state but failed to do so. It also had the authority to directly table a suspension proposal to the EU Council. Human Rights Watch associate director in Brussels, Claudio Francavilla, pointed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement on Monday that humanitarian aid, blocked since March 2, would resume due to diplomatic pressure from allied states. The statement is "no coincidence," Mr Francavilla told The National, "coming as the EU has finally formulated a credible threat of repercussions – moving away from repeated, fruitless statements and attempts at dialogue. It proves that only concrete measures – or even just a credible threat – can go a long way." "It begs the question on how many deaths and how much suffering could have been avoided had the EU had the moral integrity to act much earlier, amid overwhelming evidence of Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war, crimes against humanity, extermination and acts of genocide in Gaza," Mr Francavilla said. "Von der Leyen has repeatedly bragged about increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza, while not lifting a finger as EU aid was rotting at Gaza's borders and people were being deliberately starved by Israeli authorities." Five trucks entered Gaza on Monday, according to Israeli authorities. The UN called it a 'welcome development' but said far more aid is needed to address the vast humanitarian crisis. In a joint statement, France, the United Kingdom and Canada said they strongly opposed the expansion of Israel's military operations in Gaza. "We condemn the abhorrent language used recently by members of the Israeli Government, threatening that, in their despair at the destruction of Gaza, civilians will start to relocate. Permanent forced displacement is a breach of international humanitarian law," they said. "If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response." At an EU humanitarian forum held in Brussels on Monday, more than 20 Western countries, as well as Ms Kallas, also raised concerns over Israel's blockade of the embattled enclave. They rejected reported US-Israeli plans to sideline the UN and hand over aid distribution to private US contractors protected by the Israeli army. "Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change," they said.
