Some Israeli actions 'against international law' - EU

RT
Tue, 10 Oct 2023 18:53 UTC

© AFP

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell
Press Conference • Oman • October 10, 2023

Denying Gaza water, food and electricity is not appropriate, Josep Borrell has said...

Borrell, in Oman where he attended the joint meeting of foreign ministers from the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council, said:

"Israel has the right to defend, but it has to be done in accord with international humanitarian law. And some decisions are contra this international law."

Both the EU and the GCC have condemned terrorist attacks by Hamas, Borrell noted, but also condemned any attacks on civilians, demanded the immediate release of all hostages, and called for Israel to respect international law and not block the delivery of food, water or electricity to the civilian population of Gaza.

The two blocs have also asked Israel to open "humanitarian corridors" from Gaza to Egypt, so that civilians can leave the territory ahead of Israeli reprisal airstrikes.

Borrell's remarks appeared to be a reference to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's statement on Monday ordering a "complete siege" of Gaza.

"There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act accordingly."

Multiple media outlets also quoted Gallant as saying on Tuesday that he had "lifted all the restraints" on Israeli rules of engagement against Gaza.

Israel launched reprisal airstrikes against the Palestinian territory after Hamas, which controls much of Gaza, sent commandos deep into Israeli territory on Saturday. The three days of heavy clashes have resulted in at least 900 dead Israelis and at least 830 dead Palestinians, according to the authorities in West Jerusalem and Gaza, respectively.

Just before Gallant announced the "siege," the EU declared it would put €691 million ($728.8 million) in aid to the Palestinian Authority under review and suspend all pending payments, citing the "scale of terror and brutality against Israel and its people" by Hamas.

Borrell later "clarified" those remarks to note that aid will continue, because suspending it would amount to "punishing all the Palestinian people" and damage EU interests in the region.

Comment: All and Nothing

10 October 2023

Israel should use Jericho missiles to "level" Gaza "without mercy" after the weekend's attacks by Hamas, lawmaker Revital Gotliv has said. Gotliv is a member of the Knesset from the ranks of Likud, the party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He posted on X:

"Jericho Missile! Jericho Missile! Strategic alert. before considering the introduction of forces. Doomsday weapon! This is my opinion. May God preserve all our strength."

Jericho is the name of an Israeli intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), whose most recent iteration is capable of striking almost anywhere in the world. Israel is widely understood to have anywhere from 100-200 nuclear warheads, which the government in West Jerusalem has neither confirmed nor denied.

On Tuesday, Gotliv followed up her post about nuclear missiles with another, calling for "crushing and flattening Gaza."

"Only an explosion that shakes the Middle East will restore this country's dignity, strength and security! It's time to kiss doomsday. Shooting powerful missiles without limit. Not flattening a neighborhood," she posted. "Otherwise we did nothing...not with slogans, with penetrating bombs. Without mercy!"

X tagged her post as potentially being in violation of rules against violent speech, but did not delete it as it was deemed to be in the public interest.

In multiple other posts, Gotliv urged the Israeli government to "Shell Gaza mercilessly" and urged it to order "the crushing of Gaza." She also praised US President Joe Biden for a "flame-throwing speech that showed Hamas that we are not alone in our intent to wipe it off the face of the earth."

Hamas, a Palestinian militant group which controls much of Gaza, launched 'Operation Al-Aqsa Flood' on Saturday, firing rockets and sending commandos deep into Israeli territory. The Israel Defense Force responded by bombing Gaza and turning off all of its utilities.

11 October, 2023

The Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry has warned of the risk of "manifestations of genocide" during the Israeli retaliation against Hamas, after the militant group launched a deadly raid into southern Israel last week.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority explained the efforts of Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki and his diplomatic corps to rally international support for Palestinians by exposing "the crimes of the occupation and the manifestations of genocide committed against our people in the Gaza Strip."

In the wake of the Hamas incursion, the ministry said it wants to prevent Israel from "exploiting the support of international parties" to "invade the Gaza Strip... and liquidate the Palestinian cause."

Hamas overwhelmed Israeli defenses along the Gaza border on Saturday. Hundreds of the group's fighters breached the border wall and attacked dozens of military bases and civilian settlements in southern Israel, killing and injuring hundreds of Israelis and taking scores of hostages.

The Israeli government reacted to the worst breach of national security in five decades by declaring war on Hamas, setting the obliteration of "animal terrorists" as its goal.

The Palestinian Authority is controlled by Fatah, a faction that rivals Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces could soon launch a ground operation in Gaza. According to Axios, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed US President Joe Biden of his intention to do so on Monday.