Borrell attacks Israel: Starvation as a “war arm”
EU High Representative Josep Borrell condemned the insufficient humanitarian aid in Gaza on March 12th, according to Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies.
The former Spanish minister emphasised that the current emergency in the Gaza Strip “is not a natural disaster, is not a flood, is not an earthquake, it is man made” and accused Israel of using starvation as a “war arm” at the UN headquarters in New York.
On December 18th, Human Rights Watch reported that “the Israeli government is using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare in the occupied Gaza Strip, which is a war crime”, claiming that “evidence Indicates Civilians Deliberately Denied Access to Food, Water”
As of February 25th, almost 25% of households in the Strip were starved due to the lack of aid, and dozens of children were killed by it. UNRWA boss Philippe Lazzarini addressed the issues claiming that “the world (must be) committed to never let famine happen again” as it could be “avoided through genuine political will to grant access and protection to meaningful assistance.”
READ: UN accuses Israel of “starvation campaign” in Gaza
However, according to Borrell, the most efficient way to allow aid into the territory is currently being artificially obstructed by Israel, forcing States to find “alternative ways of providing support, by sea or by air” and thus drastically reducing the supplies entering Gaza below pre-war levels.
The EU official denounced the incoherence towards the issue, claiming that “when we condemn this happening in Ukraine, we have to use the same words of what’s happening in Gaza”.
READ: US carries out airdrop of aid into Gaza
This is not the first time Borrell has openly criticised Israel’s conduct, responsible for the death of more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza-based Ministry of Health.
Asharq Al-Awsat/agencies
