EU: "Israel's Gaza Strip blockade violates international law"

Palestine Humanitarian Aid Continues

The European Union (EU) has expressed opposition to Israel's full blockade of the Gaza Strip as a retaliatory response to the surprise attack by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, told reporters after an informal meeting of foreign ministers from the 27 EU countries held via video conference in Muscat, Oman, "Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must comply with international law and international humanitarian law."

He explained that "some of (Israel's) decisions conflict with international law," and that many EU foreign ministers hold the position that electricity and food supplies to the Gaza Strip should not be cut off.

Earlier, the United Nations also pointed out that Israel's full blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international law.

At the emergency meeting convened to discuss the impact of the current situation, EU member states reached a consensus that support for the Palestinian Authority should continue separately from Hamas. High Representative Borrell said, "An overwhelming majority of member states believe that the EU must continue support for Palestine and that scheduled aid payments should not be delayed."

The EU executive body, the European Commission, had announced a policy to immediately suspend aid just the day before but reversed this decision within a day. Oliver Varhelyi, the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, stated on social media the previous day, "As the largest donor to Palestine, the European Commission will review the entire development aid portfolio worth $691 million (approximately 990 billion KRW)" and announced that all aid payments would be suspended until the review is completed. This prompted many member states within the EU Commission to voice opposition and concerns about suspending even humanitarian aid to Palestine.

Regarding this, High Representative Borrell explained, "We will review with member states whether it is necessary to adjust support programs considering the changing situation," and added, "There will be no suspension of aid payments." He further stated, "The purpose of this review is to ensure that EU funds do not indirectly assist the terrorist organization's attacks on Israel."

Political media outlet Politico pointed out that the EU member states have shown signs of division from the start in their response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, in light of the EU's reversal of its position.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.