Josep Borrell calls for international accountability for Israel's actions

In recent months, Josep Borrell, the Vice President and Foreign Policy Chief of the European Commission, has made several significant statements regarding Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. His tenure is concluding, but his remarks reflect a strong stance on the ongoing conflict. Borrell has openly criticized Israeli policies and actions, including the killing of civilians and airstrikes on UN-run facilities. In September 2023, he expressed outrage over an Israeli airstrike that resulted in numerous civilian deaths, emphasizing that the disregard for international humanitarian law must not be accepted. In November 2023, he highlighted the need for the EU to place pressure on the Israeli government to halt ongoing hostilities in Gaza. Underlining the failure to stop the violence, he suggested that EU Member States should ban imports from illegal settlements and suspend political dialogue with Israel. This call to action emerged after his concerns that Israel is drastically changing, underscored by the arrest warrants issued against Israeli leadership by the International Criminal Court. Borrell also addressed issues of antisemitism linked to criticism of Israeli actions, emphasizing that dissent should not be met with accusations of antisemitism. He highlighted a broader pattern where dissenters are frequently attacked verbally when they oppose the Israeli government's policies. The geopolitical atmosphere is tense, particularly considering recent remarks from other European leaders, such as Kaja Kallas, the former premier of Estonia, who accused Hamas of terrorism, adding layers of complexity to the EU’s collective response to the conflict. Borrell's statements and positions are critical reminders that the humanitarian concerns in the region require urgent attention from all members of the international community, especially within the European Union, as they contemplate their foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine.