The European Parliament, divided by the request for a “permanent ceasefire” in Gaza

2024-01-16 20:49:51

For the World Health Organization, the Gaza Strip is experiencing “hell” after more than 100 days of conflict and attacks in which more than 24,000 people have died. Despite the deterioration of the situation, the European Parliament does not agree to ask for a permanent ceasefire. That’s what they claim social democrats, liberals, greens and the European left in resolutions on the humanitarian situation, the need for a ceasefire and the risk of regional escalation that they will vote on Thursday. Neither PPE nor the ultra-conservatives – the extreme right does not support it either – include the petition in their respective texts.

Although the groups will try to agree on a common declaration that will be voted on Thursday, the division over the request for a permanent ceasefire remains evident. The draft resolution proposed by the socialists calls for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to violence for de-escalation and full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law.” It also calls on Israel to stop “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians resulting from collective punishment on the population living in the Gaza Strip.” The European Left, for its part, advocates calling for an “immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire.” The Greens/EFA ask “all parties to immediately cease hostilities and agree to a permanent ceasefire” while the text promoted by the Renwe liberals underlines “the need for a permanent ceasefire and the resumption of hostilities.” efforts towards a political solution.

Hostage release

Faced with this bloc, neither the European People’s Party, nor the ultra-conservatives of ECR ​​nor the extreme right of ID see the request favorably. “We all want this to end and there is a solution for it: the release of the Israeli hostages and the demilitarization of Gaza,” the popular MEP warned. Antonio Lopez History. “Establishing a ceasefire is simple. Hamas has to release all the hostages, including the bodies of those murdered,” agreed the Swedish ultraconservative. Charlie Weimers. “They are only concerned about the humanitarian situation of the enemies of Israel who are also the enemies of our Western values,” the German far-right responded during the debate. Sylvia Limmer.

During the debate, in which the Belgian foreign minister participated, Hadja Lahbib on behalf of the rotating EU presidency and the humanitarian aid commissioner Janez Lenarcicsocialists, greens and left have put the emphasis on the three months of attacks and bombings that the Strip has suffered and the damage to a population that has seen more than 24,000 people die, the equivalent, according to the socialist Pedro Marques, “5 million deaths if we were talking about the European Union,” he said during the debate held by the plenary session. “1% of the population of Gaza: 10,000 children, entire families, teachers, journalists, workers from international organizations. This carnage has to stop. There must be a permanent ceasefire. We must free all the hostages. Use all the leverage we have to stop this war,” claimed the Catalan MEP. Jordi Solé. During another debate held last October, the groups also did not agree on calling for a permanent ceasefire. They did agree then to request a humanitarian pause.