The EU Staff for Peace & Justice group has intensified its criticism of Europe's "inaction" regarding the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

The group addressed a letter to the presidents of the European Commission, European Council, and European Parliament, urging the initiation of a dialogue to shift the EU's stance on the situation in the Middle East, highlighting "how little (if anything) the EU is doing to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

As of September, 1,748 staff members had signed the letter, expressing frustration over the EU’s limited response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Despite a June statement from a Commission spokesperson claiming that a dialogue with the staff had begun, the group reported that "no such dialogue with EU Staff for Peace and Justice has yet been initiated by the institution."

Around 100 members of staff of the EU institutions stood outside the Commission in Brussels to protest for more EU action to bring about peace and prevent further deaths in the Middle East.

A bold move in their context - they’re bound to “principles of loyalty and impartiality.” pic.twitter.com/tJTLzeZGb2

— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) October 10, 2024

The group also commemorated the first anniversary of the Israeli occupation's war on the Gaza Strip by gathering outside the European Commission’s Berlaymont headquarters during their lunch break. Following the protest, they planned to send a follow-up letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seeking discussions on the EU’s role in advocating for a ceasefire and ensuring that the EU does not become "morally complicit in breaches of international law committed in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, and Israel."

The original letter, signed by EU staff members in their personal capacity as citizens, emphasized the importance of upholding international law, stating, "To stand idly by in the face of such an erosion of the international rule of law would mean failing the European project" that was envisioned after World War II. The letter has been repeatedly sent as the number of signatories has grown.

Netherlands sued over failure to end Israeli violations of int'l law

Palestinian and Dutch groups launched a court lawsuit against the Netherlands on Thursday, accusing it of failing to prevent "Israel" from committing probable genocide in Gaza and other crimes of international law.

The complaint contends that the Netherlands has a legal responsibility to do all in its power to prevent suspected violations of international law and the 1948 Genocide Convention by "Israel".

It is endorsed by Palestinian human rights organizations, Dutch social justice NGOs, and Jewish organizations that oppose the Israeli government.

The groups want courts to force the country to suspend any commerce with the Israeli occupation relating to its presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as a ban on all Dutch exports of weapons and equipment to "Israel" that may be used for military purposes, according to the NGOs' lawyer, Wout Albers.

The lawsuit is anticipated to be heard in November.

It is uncertain how far the lawsuit will proceed, given the Dutch Supreme Court has previously denied multiple attempts to hold the Netherlands accountable for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention.

The Netherlands has always been a staunch political supporter of the occupation. The legal lawsuit draws on the conclusion of a previous case against the Dutch state, in which a court in February ordered the government to halt all shipments of F-35 fighter aircraft parts to "Israel" due to worries that they were being used to violate international law.

Read more: Netherlands could sue 'Israel' over espionage, interference in ICC