In the midst of the growing concern of the attacks without remors of Israel against the civilian population of Gaza, which, since October 7, 2023, would have resulted in death and injuries of more than 227,000 Palestinians and the displacement, in the last two weeks, of more than 400,000 people, 325 former ambassadors of the European Union and the Member State and senior officials call for urgent shares.
We strongly exhort the EU to immediately impose targeted sanctions on the Israeli government and to suspend the agreement of the Association of EU-Israel. In addition, we urge the President of the United Nations General Assembly and the President of the United Nations Security Council to convene emergency meetings of the two organizations to adopt sanctions against Israel for multiple violations of international law which were going daily against the people of Palestine. The United Nations, being the world organization established for peace and security, must live up to its responsibilities.
We cannot remain lazy, looking at Gaza reduced to rubble and its inhabitants pushed in destitution and famine. The question is whether the EU and the nations sharing the same ideas will defend fundamental humanity and the values underlying the international post-war order. Measures must be taken urgently to preserve life, put an end to the military assault in Gaza, obtain the return of all hostages and go to governance agreements which allow rapid return of Palestinian authority to Gaza as a necessary step towards a unified and democratically elected Palestinian government.
We demand that EU leaders react urgently to the fact that in recent days, the actions of the Israeli army have increased to another level, with the bombing of the city of Gaza in pursuit of the policy of the Israeli government openly declared to clean the population of the city and to force the displacement of a million and a half-person inside the territory.
In addition, a famine of artificial origin takes place in Gaza, already affecting 500,000 people. Severe malnutrition is rigorous, and more than 130 children are hungry, despite the provisional conclusions of the International Court of Justice in February 2024 in the case addressed against Israel, which forced all states to take measures to ensure that adequate humanitarian supplies reach Gaza. Finally, Israel ignored the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly of September 18, 2024, calling for the end of its illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, double by annexing additional territory of Palestinian territory at the end of its illegal occupation.
While noting the European Commission’s Newly Announced Propals for Limited Measures Against Israel, Our Conviction is that the EU’s Institutions and its Member States Must Act Far More Decisively to Uphold International Law and Protect Human Rights, Notably by Suspending the Eu-Israel Association Agrement, Cealsing the Export and Import of Arms and Import of Arms and Military Equipment, Banning Imports from Israel’s Illegal Settlements, Access to Eu Co-Financed Programs, and Urging The other key business partners of Israel, including in the world South, to follow suit. They must also impose immediate targeted sanctions on the political and military leaders of Israel and all these accomplices and leaders of war crimes, by ensuring responsibility.
In addition, we urge the 13 EU member states which have not yet done so to join the 147 UN Member States which have already recognized the state of Palestine, and those who announced that they will do so during the during the United Nations General Assembly, notably France, Belgium, Malta, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. In addition, the EU must demonstrate political and diplomatic leadership within all UN organizations and in partnerships with the southern states, the Arab states and the global regional powers, to put pressure on Israel in accordance with its international obligations.
He must also support and strengthen the World Alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution, the key platform for a sustainable political solution allowing Palestinians and Israelis to coexist in peace and security, and demand that the United States cancel the decisions preventing official representatives of Palestine and the UN from engaging in dialogue at the United Nations General Assembly.
The odious attacks of October 7, 2023 by Hamas and others against Israeli citizens, as well as the continuous detention of hostages, can never justify the remuneration provided on Gaza, which becomes the cemetery of international law and universal human rights. The reckless military assaults of the type committed by Israel on the sovereign territory of Qatar, a key player in the cease-fire talks, as well as the lack of effective action, will condemn the generations of the Palestinians and the Israelis to perpetuate and continue to destabilize the region and beyond. It is all up to everyone, as global citizens, to ask our leaders nothing less than the complete application of international law. The moment to act is now.
The complete list of signatories of this letter can be viewed here.
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