Borrell: EU’s failure on Gaza response ‘colossal and deafening’
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Josep Borrell slams the EU for its delayed and indifferent response to the Gaza crisis, urging stronger action against Israeli attacks on civilians.
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European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell speaks during a press conference at the UN headquarters on September 21, 2022. (AP)
Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has sharply criticized the European Union for the "colossal delays" and "deafening indifference" in responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
In an interview with El Pais published Tuesday, Borrell condemned the EU’s failure to take meaningful action amid escalating violence and civilian suffering in Gaza.
Borrell highlighted deep divisions among EU member states over their positions on "Israel" and pointed to the European Commission’s lack of leadership in condemning attacks on civilians in the besieged enclave.
“The delay in response is colossal, and the indifference to the proposed measures is deafening,” he stated.
EU freezes sanctions on 'Israel'
This comes just as the European Union announced it was halting an initial plan to impose sanctions on "Israel", citing concerns of diplomatic disruptions that could interfere with the ongoing talks for a ceasefire in Gaza.
EU diplomats cited Germany and Italy’s positions as key to the decision. Both countries are opting to wait for the outcome of Trump’s ceasefire initiative, which is being discussed this week in Cairo.
"Nobody wants to take steps that could get in the way of the talks," one EU diplomat was quoted as saying.
The European Union’s rapid decision to shelve even preliminary sanctions discussions the moment a ceasefire plan was introduced underscores a deeper pattern of political complicity. While European officials solely criticized "Israel’s" actions in Gaza, the bloc’s swift withdrawal from concrete punitive measures reveals a reluctance to challenge "Israel" in practice.
Read more: From protests to sanctions: Europe's shift away from 'Israel'
