'Israel' is acting against international law: Borrell

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Politico
10 Oct 2023 23:30
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Representatives from the EU's 27 member states convened for emergency discussions and insisted on the need to "respect international law humanitarian law."

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell talks to journalists during a news conference following an EU Foreign Affairs minister meeting at the European Council building in Brussels on Jan. 25, 2021 (AP)

EU foreign ministers asked "Israel" on Tuesday not to cut "water, food, or electricity" to Gaza and called for humanitarian corridors for people attempting to evacuate the Gaza Strip, according to EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

The EU’s top diplomat said "Israel’s" actions in Gaza already may have breached international law, as he underlined the need for the EU to continue the funding for Palestine.

“The right for self defense has to be done within international law,” the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell, said Tuesday following a specially convened virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“Some of the actions [by Israel] — and the United Nations has already said it — cutting water, cutting electricity, cutting food to a mass of civilian people is against international law so yes, there are some actions that are not in accordance with international law,” he said.

Representatives from the EU's 27 member states convened for emergency discussions and insisted on the need for "respect of international law humanitarian law and it means no blockage of water, food or electricity to the civil population in Gaza," according to Josep Borrell.

Borrell also added that an "overwhelming majority" of EU states are against the suspension of aid to Palestine, calling it "unfair and unproductive."

The European Commission will not suspend due assistance payments to Palestinians, EU foreign policy chief Borrell said Monday, shortly after the EU neighborhood commissioner announced an end to "all payments".

On Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asked for continued humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian areas, a day after Berlin announced a halt to assistance.

Baerbock stated that "it would be completely wrong to cease essential humanitarian aid for the civilian population."

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called on the global community to defuse the "explosive powder keg" situation in Palestine.

According to intelligence received by his office, Israeli airstrikes have damaged residential towers in Gaza City and other residential structures throughout Gaza, as well as schools and UNRWA grounds, resulting in civilian fatalities.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the number of martyrs resulting from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has surpassed 900, with the number of injuries exceeding 4,500.

'Israel' tightens its seige on Gaza

In response to the announcement made by the Israeli security minister Yoav Gallant, ordering a full siege of the city, Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch "Israel" and Palestine Director for Human Rights, posted on X that depriving a population of food and electricity is "collective punishment" and that this is the Israeli occupation's method of utilizing starvation as a weapon of war.

According to Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz, all the water supply from "Israel" to Gaza has been cut off.

Gallant, as quoted by GLZ Radio, has ordered to cut off electricity, water, and food from Gaza in the aftermath of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

He revealed the occupation's true face by referring to the Palestinians in Gaza as "human animals," whom he will have to deal with "accordingly".