Borrell admits that Europe “must engage more” in Gaza, and confirms violations of international law

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Monday that “what is happening” in Gaza is “a violation of international humanitarian law” and considered that Europe “must commit itself more.”

“Can what is happening in Gaza be justified by the right to defend Israel against a terrorist attack? My answer is no. That answer only concerns me, because it is not the official policy of the European Union,” he stressed in Pamplona, ​​where he received the II Navarra Puerta de Europa International Award within the framework of the European Summer Courses, organized by Navarre Diary and Team Europe.

Josep Borrell has indicated that “it cannot be said that the 40,000 dead in Gaza correspond to the right to defense, because all rights have limits, and those limits are international humanitarian law, and what is happening is a violation of international humanitarian law“.

After this, Borrell stated that “Europe must commit itself more, not only to humanitarian aid” because “it is not of much use to give me dinner today if I have to die tomorrow.” “Humanitarian aid must be reinforced, and the role played by UNRWA must be applauded. What point have we reached when a United Nations organisation is classified as a terrorist organisation by a United Nations member state?” he asked.

The EU High Representative has advocated “working to find a political solution to this conflict but unfortunately we have been disunited” in the European Union. Thus, he explained that Spain and other countries “have been on the side of the Palestinian cause, recognizing the State that does not yet exist and being spokesmen for respect for international law” and he pointed out that other countries are being more “condescending.”

On the situation of UkraineJosep Borrell explained that he was in Donbas two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, and “the Prime Minister of Ukraine told me, and I will not forget it: ‘They are going to attack us, and when they attack us, what are you going to do? We know that you are not going to come to die for us, and we did not ask you to either, but are you going to help us defend ourselves? Are you going to give us the necessary weapons to defend ourselves? ‘ And I did not know what to answer him, because I had no certainty that Europe was going to do it.”

The EU High Representative stressed that “the war continues and as long as we help them they will continue to defend themselves.” Regarding those who say that the war would end if Ukraine stopped receiving international support, Borrel said that “If there was no help, Ukraine would have to surrender in a couple of weeks“Russia would be in kyiv in two weeks.” “I know how to end this war, it’s very easy. But this is not the way to end this war, which of course I want to end, and those who want it to end the most are the Ukrainians,” he said.

Borrell has indicated that “all wars end with a negotiation and everything possible is done so that this negotiation takes place,” but he has pointed out that said negotiation will not take place “until the outcome is known.” American election results“He also expressed his support for continuing to help Ukraine.

According to Borrell, the war in Ukraine is a conflict “generated by an imperial power that has invaded another country” and the conflict in Gaza is “a terrible struggle between two peoples for the same land that has lasted for more than a hundred years, a conflict in which we Europeans have an enormous responsibility because We promised that land to two at the same time“.