Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv
Al-Qassam: To our free prisoners: Gaza, its Resistance, have given their most precious possessions, have striven with all their might to break your chains; we pledge that your cause will remain at the top of our national priorities until you are all freed.

EU ministers reject Israeli arms ban despite Gaza war crimes evidence

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Intercept
  • 24 Dec 2024 19:53
  • 5 Shares
4 Min Read

European Union foreign ministers rejected a proposal to halt arms shipments to the Israeli occupation despite the disproportionate toll on civilians in Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
    Palestinian children wait for food at a distribution center in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Intercept on Tuesday revealed that European Union foreign ministers rejected a proposal to halt arms exports to "Israel" last month, despite being presented with evidence of war crimes and genocide in an internal EU assessment.

The 35-page report, authored by Olof Skoog, the EU's special representative for human rights, was sent to ministers ahead of a council meeting on November 18.

The document, which had not been disclosed before, presented findings from United Nations sources on violations of international humanitarian law committed by "Israel" and Hamas since the start of the war in October 2023.

The report emphasized the disproportionate toll on civilians in Gaza, with an estimated 45,000 deaths, more than half of whom were women and children.

"War has rules," the assessment stated. "Given the high level of civilian casualties and human suffering, allegations focus mainly on how duty bearers, including the Israeli [Occupation] Forces (IOF), have seemingly failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian objects against the effects of the attacks, in violation of the fundamental principles of IHL."

Related News

Pro-Palestine Sydney protest ends in violent crackdown, serious injury

Cargo jet carrying 14 tons of explosives departs JFK for 'Israel'

The report also cited "dehumanizing language" used by Israeli officials, warning that it might "contribute to evidence of intent" to commit genocide. "Incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence — such as that made in statements by Israeli officials — constitutes a serious violation of international human rights law and may amount to the international crime of incitement to genocide," it added.

EU complicity

Despite Skoog's call for EU countries to deny arms export licenses where there was a clear risk of misuse in war crimes, the proposal to suspend political dialogue with "Israel" and ban arms sales was ultimately rejected by EU ministers.

Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis underscored the legal implications of the report for EU officials. "They cannot plausibly deny that they were privy to the facts given the contents of the EU's special representative's report that they had a duty to take under consideration," he told The Intercept. "The world now knows that they knew they were in breach of international law because they were explicitly told so by the EU's own special representative on human rights. History will judge them harshly. And perhaps so will the ICC."

The EU report also drew attention to economic interests tied to the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, which facilitated €46.8 billion in trade in 2022. Although Spain and Ireland requested a review of whether "Israel's" actions breached human rights clauses in the agreement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to act.

Read more: ICC warrants expose 'Israel' and US defenders: WashPo

Legal experts and humanitarian groups have criticized EU member states for their continued arms sales to "Israel" despite the report's findings. Agnès Bertrand-Sanz, a humanitarian expert with Oxfam, called it "a blatant case of criminal collusion." She added, "Even when their own services presented them with the facts, they refused to act."

The report's conclusions also warned that indiscriminate attacks on Gaza, including targeting hospitals, could amount to crimes against humanity. It called on "Israel" to adhere to its responsibilities as an occupying power to ensure the safety and health of civilians under its control. However, as Diana Buttu, a former Palestinian negotiator, noted, "It was a question of whether the politics would match with the law, and unfortunately, they did not."

  • Arms sale
  • Gaza genocide
  • Gaza
  • European Union
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta
Palestine

'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta

drop site
Politics

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

ap
Politics

SDF, Damascus reach preliminary deal to integrate forces

Palestinians search through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Politics

Gaza families return to ruins, searching for their loved ones

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS