Europe be a force for good: sanction Israel!
To the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union
Petition
We demand that the EU places sanctions on Israel, including an immediate cessation to financial and military aid and exports, until Israel respects international law.
Why is this important?
Where do you go when there is no safe place left? When even the last ‘safe’ refugee camp is being bombed and your family is shot at trying to access food aid? [1] In Gaza almost two million people have been forced to abandon their homes and famine is hitting 93% of the population. [2] With no prospect of peace or safety in sight.
The world's top court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide by ensuring basic services and aid to the people of Gaza. But so far the Israeli government has ignored this. [3]
In fact, living conditions have gotten worse. Fewer aid trucks are allowed in. Even the place people were told to seek safety is getting bombed. [5] Judges alone cannot enforce these measures: Europe needs to heed these warnings and be a force for good.
Europe can deploy sanctions to ensure governments respect international laws during war, such as allowing aid to citizens. [6] Sanctions are at the moment being used against the Russian government and have been effective in limiting the damage inflicted on Ukraine. [7] With the UN finally voting for a ceasefire this week, the pressure to work towards peace is building and sanctions would be a powerful next step. [8]
Throughout the EU, representatives are now starting to call for sanctions against Israel to end the bloodshed, mainly of women and children. [9] But they need their electorate to make a deafening noise to demand that the EU finally becomes a force for good.
References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/01/france-demands-investigation-palestinians-killed-aid-delivery-gaza https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-rafah-raise-fear-assault-could-begin-2024-03-27/
[2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/26/israels-war-on-gaza-live-icj-to-rule-on-south-africas-genocide-case https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/01/world/middleeast/gaza-israel-hunger.html https://english.elpais.com/international/2024-01-22/25000-deaths-in-gaza-why-the-destruction-of-this-war-exceeds-that-of-other-major-conflicts.html#
[3] https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-sum-01-00-en.pdf
[4] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/israel-defying-icj-ruling-to-prevent-genocide-by-failing-to-allow-adequate-humanitarian-aid-to-reach-gaza/
[5] https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/two-weeks-icj-ruling-conditions-gaza-are-getting-even-worse
[6] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/european-union-sanctions_en https://www.sanctionsmap.eu/#/main
[7] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions/restrictive-measures-against-russia-over-ukraine/sanctions-against-russia-explained/ https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/yes-sanctions-against-russia-are-working_en
[8] https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147931
[9] https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/eu-sanctions-on-hamas-and-israel-no-longer-taboo-says-sd-leader https://www.fidh.org/en/region/north-africa-middle-east/israel-palestine/the-european-union-must-sanction-israel-for-its-crimes-in-gaza https://apnews.com/article/women-children-gaza-war-victims-un-inequality-f0f89a724543b99c2c22439e7af09405