BRUSSELS: European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, on Monday urged Israel’s allies, notably the United States, to stop supplying it with weapons due to the escalating casualties in Gaza.
Borrell’s call comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden’s recent acknowledgment that Israel’s military actions in Gaza were excessive, echoing concerns over the high toll of Palestinian civilian casualties.
During a news conference in Brussels alongside Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Borrell emphasized the urgency of addressing the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He underscored the need for a reassessment of arms shipments to Israel to prevent further loss of life.
Borrell Condemns Netanyahu’s Evacuation Orders for Gaza
In a pointed critique, Borrell also condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s directive to evacuate over one million Palestinians from the Gaza city of Rafah ahead of an impending military operation. Questioning the feasibility of such an evacuation, Borrell challenged the proposed relocation, asking, “To the moon? Where are they going to evacuate these people?”
The ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza, which started on October 7, has resulted in a devastating toll, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting at least 28,064 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
