Asking Israel to kill fewer people in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, while at the same time supplying the country with weapons, is contradictory, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. He said in sharp statements on Monday that all visits by Western leaders to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are useless.
“It is a bit contradictory to say that too many people are being killed – please, take care of the people, please do not kill too many of them,” Borrell said after consultations with EU development ministers in Brussels. “Stop saying ‘please’ and do something. Netanyahu doesn’t listen to anyone.”
“It doesn't make sense”
The European Union's top diplomat noted that the United States, Israel's most important ally, had in the past stopped supplying weapons to Israel to call on Israel to respect the regime. “If you think too many people are being killed, you might have to provide fewer weapons to prevent that from happening,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense.” Borrell also pointed to a Dutch judge, who is blocking the Netherlands from exporting more spare parts for M16 fighter jets. F-35 to Israel.
Attack in Rafah
In the Gaza Strip, it appears that a large-scale Israeli attack is currently underway on the southern city of Rafah, close to the border with Egypt. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is receiving a lot of international criticism because of his military plans in the city. Rafah is the last refuge for fleeing Palestinian civilians. According to the United Nations, 1.4 million Palestinians are crammed into the city, fleeing fighting and bombing in the rest of the Gaza Strip.
Many countries, including its loyal ally the United States, have already warned Israel of the disastrous consequences of a major attack in Rafah. US President Joe Biden on Sunday called on the Israeli Prime Minister not to carry out a military operation in Rafah “without a reliable and implementable plan to protect the population.” The president also previously described Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas attack as “excessive.” He said that a large-scale military operation in Rafah would not receive American support.
Netanyahu said Monday after the release of two hostages during a nighttime military operation in Rafah that “only sustained military pressure” until victory is achieved will enable all hostages in the Gaza Strip to be freed. According to the Prime Minister, Israel can only be safe if Hamas is completely eliminated. He says he wants to evacuate ordinary citizens from the city. A number of human rights organizations accuse Israel of wanting to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, including by making the Strip uninhabitable through its destruction.
Rottie: “I said, ‘Don’t do that.’”
On Monday, another Western leader visited Israel; This time it is the turn of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. He met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday. “I said: Don’t do that,” Rutte told the NPA about the planned attack in Rafah.
Rutte said he disagreed with Borrell over the arms shipments. Israel has the right to possess weapons, according to the Dutch Prime Minister. Netanyahu still says that the attack in Rafah is continuing.
Netanyahu rejects the ceasefire in Gaza and seeks to achieve victory over Hamas
The United States and Israel offered $14 billion to open the borders and Egypt still says no: “If you do that, Gaza will end” (+)
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