The end of great restraint: the EU warns Israel One year after mass panic with 160 deaths in Seoul: the question of guilt remains unresolved to this day

The European Union is hardening its tone towards Israel in view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The latest draft of the final declaration of an EU summit that began on Thursday calls for “rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.” Necessary measures also include humanitarian corridors and ceasefires.

“Citizens must be protected always and everywhere,” said EU Council President Charles Michel, referring to the situation in the Gaza Strip. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo was even clearer. While strongly condemning Hamas’ terror, he then told Israel: “This is never an excuse to blockade an entire region. It should never be an excuse to block humanitarian aid. “It can never be an excuse to starve a population.”

Dispute over calls for a ceasefire

There have previously been heated discussions in the EU over demands for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire for the Gaza Strip. Countries such as Germany, Austria and Hungary have spoken out clearly against the EU publicly joining such calls. They argue that such a step is inappropriate given the continued terror of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas.

Countries such as Spain and Ireland, on the other hand, supported such a call because of the many civilian casualties in Israeli attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip. They argue that Israel’s closure of the Gaza Strip is in clear violation of international law. Germany in particular is quietly accused of not wanting to appeal to Israel because of its Nazi past.

Accusation of double standards

Countries that are more supportive of the Palestinians’ concerns see it as a danger that the EU will make itself unreliable at international level if it does not address possible violations of international law by Israel. This is especially true in light of the EU’s efforts to encourage countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia to cooperate more closely against Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Top EU officials insist even behind closed doors that Israel is bombing civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip indiscriminately and with little regard for civilians. So far, 7,028 people have been killed and more than 18,000 injured, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. Since the bloody Hamas attack on October 7, Israel has suffered more than 1,400 deaths and around 4,000 injuries.

The current compromise now stipulates that there will be no demand for a comprehensive ceasefire, but that it will call for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting and the creation of “humanitarian corridors.” The use of the word ‘pauses’ in the plural is intended to make it clear that the EU is not calling on Israel to immediately and permanently stop the fight against Hamas. Countries such as Germany and Hungary want to avoid this impression at all costs.

Right to self-defense with limits

Israel must take all necessary measures to ensure that what happened does not happen again, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in Brussels. Together with Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, he is one of the most uncompromising Israel supporters in the EU.

However, many EU partners see this differently and this can also be read from the text of the final declaration. Israel’s right to defend itself is emphatically emphasized there – but with the caveat that this is done “in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law”. Accordingly, using civilians as human shields is a “particularly deplorable atrocity,” but it is not an excuse to cut off the Gaza Strip’s electricity and water supplies.

Growing criticism of Israel’s counteroffensive is also evident with the EU’s planned commitment to work closely with its partners in the region to also facilitate access to fuel. In doing so, she is clearly opposing the Israeli government, which has so far refused to continue supplying the Gaza Strip with fuel for fear of abuse. The planned EU statement states that the EU will ensure that this aid is not misused by terrorist organizations.

Respect for international law: Scholz trusts Israel

European heads of state and government are particularly concerned about the possible consequences of an overly drastic response by Israel to Hamas’ terror. How we respond is important for the future security of the entire region – including that of the European Union, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar warned.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) also warned again about an expansion of the conflict, but focused mainly on Israel’s neighboring countries: “It must not happen that, for example, Hezbollah enters the war in the north with its own activities or Iran and its proxies try to to intervene, as it were.’

Scholz refuted fears that Israel could undermine international law in its actions against Hamas with very clear words. “Israel is a democratic state guided by very humanitarian principles,” he said. “And therefore you can be sure that the Israeli army will also comply with the rules arising from international law in its activities. I do not doubt that.”

(hah/sda/dpa)