Israel undeterred by weak EU sanction proposals as genocide continues
The Global Sumud Flotilla has come under attack tonight by the Israeli authorities in international waters.
The crew includes Left MEPs Rima Hassan and Emma Fourreau in addition to local and national representatives of Left political parties. The Left has no update on their whereabouts or their safety following the cutting of the flotilla’s livestream. The Left urges the immediate release of all captives. The Left also calls for immediate and direct EU action against the genocide in Gaza. It is unconscionable for the European Union and its Member States to continue to allow Israel to act with impunity as it attacks elected representatives and openly perpetrates war crimes.
Speaking with her colleagues in The Left just before the attack on the Flotilla tonight, MEP Rima Hassan (La France Insoumise, France) said: “On board the flotilla, hundreds of humanitarians and citizens are carrying out a strictly legal and non-violent mission. Any illegal arrest by Israel, carried out outside Israeli territorial waters, constitutes a serious and flagrant violation of international law, including maritime law and humanitarian law. It will not stop international solidarity with Palestine. The illegal blockade of Gaza will be broken. The genocide will face justice and will be punished accordingly. Palestine will be liberated.”
Also speaking just before the attack, MEP Emma Fourreau (La France Insoumise, France) said: “If you are reading this, a few hours before the arrival of our humanitarian mission in Gaza, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and kidnapped our crews. It is time for the Israeli government’s impunity to end : we must block everything. We must block Europe and the global economy in response. Every citizen can play a role in completing our mission: breaking the illegal siege and ending the genocide – we are millions.”
Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Palestine MEP Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin, Ireland) said “This is the third time in recent months that Israel has kidnapped activists attempting to bring vital humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza. The humanitarians aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla are doing what world leaders are too cowardly to – attempting to bring relief to the Palestinians of Gaza and break Israel’s illegal blockade. As world leaders’ moot a so-called ‘peace plan’ Israel is continuing to violate international law and commit genocide. The EU must sanction Israel and ensure that they are held to account for their war crimes. Furthermore, the EU and Member States must ensure that all those kidnapped are released and that no harm comes to them.”
The flotilla of 40 boats, with crew from over 40 countries, has come to symbolise true solidarity and action. The actions of the volunteers on board contrast sharply with the inaction and cowardice of Ursula von der Leyen and the European Commission. The President of the Commission took 23 months to put forward basic sanctions against Israel, which failed to even mention Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ICC warrant for his arrest. Her genocide denial will go down in history.
The Left continues to call for a complete arms embargo on Israel, sanctions against all involved in the genocide, actions to bring Netanyahu to justice in the International Criminal Court, and the complete suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
