EU studies sanctions against 'Israel' after 235 days of genocide

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
28 May 2024 08:10
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The Irish foreign minister has told reporters that a council of EU foreign ministers has seriously discussed sanctioning the Israeli regime.

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From right, Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno, and Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheal Martin address a media conference prior to talks in Brussels, Belgium, on May 27, 2024. (AP)

The European Union (EU) ministers engaged in a "significant" discussion on sanctioning the Israeli regime if it does not comply with international humanitarian law, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said on Monday.

"There was a very clear consensus about the need to uphold the international humanitarian legal institutions," Martin told reporters following the Foreign Affairs Council.

The meeting comes amid continued Israeli attacks on the southernmost city of the Gaza Strip, Rafah, which an International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered to be halted. Most recently, the Israeli occupation intensified its bombardment of civilians in the area, targeting a temporary camp that forcibly displaced Palestinians had set up. This attack killed at least 45 Palestinians, an action which was broadly condemned by EU leaders.

Despite public condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, the EU has been slow to mobilize sanctions against the Israeli regime. Particularly, the EU is legally obligated to suspend its association agreement with "Israel", due to blatant human rights violations and defiance of ICJ orders.

EU ignores its legal obligations, wakes up after harrowing massacre

The matter was pointed out by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, earlier in April. Still, the EU has yet to take effective action against the Israeli regime, as several member states recently worked on recognizing the Palestinian state and pushing for sanctions against the Israeli regime, including Ireland and Spain.

"For the first time at an EU meeting, in a real way, I’ve seen significant discussion on sanctions and ‘what if’," Martin said.

However, Martin did point to an internal rift between European officials, saying that there is "some distance between people articulating the need for a sanction-based approach" targeting the rogue Israeli regime. According to the Irish foreign minister, this has made it difficult to reach an agreement, "given all the different perspectives" on the matter.

"One of the conclusions was to convene a meeting of the EU-Israeli Association Council to raise our grave concerns and to... seek from Israel a response in terms of complying with the orders of the Court," he said.

Since the war on Gaza was launched, the Israeli occupation has committed multiple massacres in the Gaza Strip on a daily basis, targeting civilian infrastructure, essential medical facilities, schools, humanitarian aid convoys, journalists, and other internationally protected facilities and persons.

Yet, the EU failed to mobilize its political class for more than 235 days and counting, while it has been quick to condemn and take action against the Palestinian Resistance. In his discussion with reporters, Martin also condemned the Palestinian Resistance, saying that it is "very important" to hold the Palestinian Resistance accountable for its actions.