Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 18 June 2025 - Strasbourg

8. Stopping the genocide in Gaza: time for EU sanctions (topical debate)

  President. – The next item is the topical debate on 'Stopping the genocide in Gaza: time for EU sanctions'.

I would like to inform Members that for this debate there is no catch-the-eye procedure and no blue cards will be accepted.

  Manon Aubry, auteur. – Madame la Présidente, Madame Kallas, génocide, génocide, génocide. Je le répète volontairement car malgré 18 mois de massacres à Gaza, vous refusez toujours délibérément d'employer ce terme, Madame Kallas. 18 mois de tueries et plus de 55 000 morts, 18 mois de destruction dont 90 % des écoles, 18 mois de famine pour 2 millions de civils, 18 mois que le gouvernement israélien organise méthodiquement et délibérément le génocide du peuple palestinien.

Il aura fallu attendre que notre groupe de la gauche utilise sa possibilité d'organiser un débat pour que le mot génocide et la nécessité de sanctions apparaissent pour la première fois à l'ordre du jour officiel de notre Parlement européen. Nous faisons en somme ce que vous, Madame Kallas, et vous dirigeants européens, qui ne daignez même pas venir pour ce débat, avez refusé de faire jusqu'à présent: qualifier l'indicible pour agir, sanctionner, protéger et sortir de votre complicité.

Car oui, vous êtes complice, Madame Kallas, quand vous restez silencieuse face au blocus humanitaire imposé par Israël qui laisse pour seul rêve aux enfants de Gaza d'avoir une simple miche de pain. Ce blocus honteux qu'une députée de mon groupe, Rima Hassan, dont je veux saluer ici le courage, a tenté de contourner avec la flottille de la liberté. Leur arrestation dans les eaux internationales était illégale, leurs conditions de détention indignes. Mais les autorités européennes, et notamment vous Madame Kallas n'avez pas eu un mot pour appeler à leur libération. Apporter de l'aide humanitaire ne devrait jamais être un crime. Les seuls qui doivent être derrière les barreaux, ce sont les personnes poursuivies par la Cour pénale internationale, au premier rang desquelles Benjamin Netanyahou.

Madame Kallas je vous le redis, l'Union européenne et les dirigeants européens sont directement complices du génocide. Complices quand vous laissez Benjamin Netanyahou fouler le sol européen sans l'arrêter, complices quand vous déversez des millions d'euros au complexe militaro-industriel israélien à travers le programme de recherche Horizon, complices quand des États européens continuent à commercer et à livrer des armes à une armée génocidaire. Les mots ne suffisent plus, il faut des actes.

J'ai une question pour vous, chers collègues. Savez-vous combien notre Parlement et l'Union européenne ont adopté, à raison, de paquet de sanctions contre la Russie: dix-sept. Dix-sept! Et contre Israël qui organise un génocide? Zéro! C'est ce deux poids, deux mesures qui affaiblit toute l'architecture du droit international et qui est insupportable. Le soutien inconditionnel de l'Europe à l'extrême droite israélienne doit cesser. Cela aurait dû être fait depuis bien longtemps.

Mais vous avez une nouvelle opportunité le 23 juin prochain au Conseil des ministres des affaires étrangères, en décidant de suspendre l'accord d'association entre l'Union européenne et Israël. Et laissez-moi vous prévenir, Madame Kallas, vous ne pouvez plus tergiverser en proposant de réexaminer, peut-être dans un futur plus ou moins proche. Parce que les distributions humanitaires qui se font prendre pour cible par des tirs, ce n'est pas dans un futur, c'est maintenant. Parce que les Palestiniens, qui n'ont d'autre horizon que mourir de faim ou mourir d'une balle, ce n'est pas dans un futur, c'est maintenant. Parce que la survie, tout simplement du peuple palestinien se joue maintenant.

Tout doit être mis en œuvre pour faire plier le gouvernement de Benjamin Netanyahou. Il faut un embargo total sur les armes et des sanctions économiques et commerciales massives contre Israël. Ce n'est pas seulement notre groupe qui le demande, souvent seul, je dois le dire, dans cet hémicycle, mais ce sont aussi des centaines de milliers de personnes qui, de Rome à La Haye, de Paris à Bruxelles, se mobilisent partout en Europe et qui font bien plus que vous dirigeants européens en deux ans contre le génocide.

Alors Madame Kallas, pour finir, puisque les cris de douleur des Palestiniens vous indiffèrent, peut-être que leurs poèmes trouveront grâce à votre cœur pour qu'enfin vous sortiez de l'inaction. Écoutez ce poète palestinien Salem Joubran: «Si un enfant était assassiné et que ses meurtriers jetaient son corps dans la boue, seriez-vous en colère? Que diriez-vous? Je suis un fils de Palestine, je meurs chaque année, je me fais assassiner chaque jour, chaque heure. Exprimez-vous: qu'est-ce qui a provoqué votre soudaine indifférence? Quoi donc? Rien à dire?

  Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Madam President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, first, let us remember where this whole thing started. On 7 October 2023, Hamas carried out the worst terrorist attack in Israel's history.

Israel has the right to self-defence, but what we see in practice from Israel goes beyond self-defence. We have made this very clear in recent weeks. Blocking food and medicine for Palestinians trapped in Gaza does not protect Israel. Bypassing UN aid deliveries does not help the people – it undermines decades of humanitarian principles. The humanitarian situation is deteriorating. Three warehouses were recently opened in Gaza, but only one is now accepting new deliveries. At every single opportunity, I have called on my Israeli counterpart to let the aid flow and allow aid organisations to operate freely. You must ask the same. Reports last night that Israeli forces killed over 50 Palestinian people waiting for flour in a Gaza aid site are beyond shocking. Every day this war continues, humanity slips further away. Enough is enough.

A month ago, Israel also began an offensive in Gaza. Operation Gideon's Chariots has involved a disproportionate use of force, the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and an unacceptable death toll. Ninety per cent of people living in the Strip have already been displaced. Those who remain are entirely dependent on aid which isn't coming in. Israel's stated objective is to take control over the entire Gaza Strip. Altering, reducing or annexing territory is a direct violation of international law. Should all or parts of Gaza civilian population be permanently forced from their homes, this too would be a violation of international law. We must call it as such.

The West Bank in parallel, is in a state of chaos. Israel Defence Forces are dismantling Palestinian terrorist networks and terrorism is declining, but settler violence is increasing. This isn't logical if terrorism is to blame for settler violence. Intimidation campaigns, physical and verbal attacks, and the destruction and burning of property and homes are leading to the displacement of entire Palestinian communities. This is outright lawlessness. Israel must come face to face with its own extremists. And what is happening in the West Bank threatens the formation of a Palestinian state and peace for the region in the long run.

Honourable members, as the European Union, our job is not to lament, but to ask ourselves what we have in our power to do in response. Three points.

First, we must put the pressure on Israel. Last month, a majority of EU foreign ministers supported a review of the Association Agreement and Israel's compliance with Article 2. Article 2 imposes binding obligations on the parties to observe human rights. When we started the review, humanitarian aid had been blocked from entering Gaza for 11 weeks straight. The review is being conducted as we speak. Next Monday, we will discuss the review. I will also brief EU leaders at the European Council a few days later. I know that there are many outspoken voices here, but I have to underline that whatever happens, these are ultimately the choices for the Member States to take. We will move together as a union.

Second, we do everything we can possibly to do to alleviate suffering. The European Union is the largest international donor to the Palestinian people. Our humanitarian funding for this year alone is EUR 170 million. And since October 2023, the EU has helped transport close to 5 000 tonnes of humanitarian cargo to Gaza. I've said this many times now, including to my Israeli counterpart: the answer to threats of aid being weaponised is not to block the aid, but to flood the region with so much aid, it cannot be misused. There is more than enough to do this. The amount of aid is not the problem, but the access is.

Third, specifically on settlements: EU leaders have repeatedly condemned the Israeli Government's decisions to expand illegal settlements across the occupied West Bank. We have urged Israel to reverse these decisions. The EU has also repeatedly condemned the ongoing extremist settler violence in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. We have already adopted sanctions against nine individuals and five entities responsible for serious human rights abuses against Palestinians. Discussions are ongoing on further sanctions against extremist settlers and against entities and organisations which support them, and against Hamas supporters, but we don't have unity yet, and this is something we should all push for.

Honourable Members, we must remember where this began. Israel has the right to exist and defend itself, but no one should live in terror. Our focus must be on where this can lead. Pressure must increase on the Israeli Government. I will do this on my side, as I have repeatedly done. Likewise, we must use every avenue to pressure Hamas into handing over Gaza governance to the Palestinian Authority. A united Arab world can apply pressure here.

The European Union remains firmly committed to the two-state solution. The conference led by France and Saudi Arabia that was postponed from this week should take place. We need international mobilisation behind the two-state solution. The two-state solution is the right path and always will be. It is the only means for just and lasting peace for Israelis as well as the Palestinians.

  Hildegard Bentele, on behalf of the PPE Group. – Madam President, High Representative, dear colleagues, since 7 October, we have debated Gaza nearly every plenary.

No one here denies the suffering, but despite massive media coverage – often based on Hamas-supplied sources and political theatre across Europe, including university occupations and unilateral recognitions of Palestine – has any of this eased the humanitarian crisis? No. And suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, as loudly demanded by the S&D leader yesterday again, will not deliver a single kilo of food more to those in need.

As Chair of the EU-Israel Delegation, I have tried to be an honest broker. I warned early: Israel's break with UNWRA was serious. I also told Israeli partners: if you cut ties, you must propose alternatives. I have tabled amendments in this House to reflect that need.

Now is the time to act. Israel, the UN and aid groups must cooperate with one basic condition: that terrorists do not cease the aid. That should be obvious, and yet we cannot agree about it. Why? Because of some 'disdebate'. It's not about solutions. It's about hatred towards Israel.

Let me be clear: under international law, genocide is one of the gravest crimes imaginable. It requires mass suffering and proven intent to destroy a group as such. That threshold is extremely high. The International Court of Justice did not find Israel guilty of genocide. It called for humanitarian steps, but it did not confirm the accusation. On the contrary, the court's president, Judge Julia Sebutinde, clearly stated, and I quote, 'no plausible basis for finding genocidal intent'. She called the case 'essentially political'.

So I ask the colleagues on the left, why do you keep on repeating this claim? Words matter. False accusations fuel hatred, violence and antisemitism. Some respected members of the Berlin chapter of your party have left it, rather than remaining silent in the face of the anchoring of this toxic narrative.

Let us be united as Europeans and all choose truth over ideology, clarity over chaos, and collaboration over boycott.

  Nacho Sánchez Amor, en nombre del Grupo S&D. – Señora presidenta, señora Bentele, ¿se pueden cerrar los ojos al desprecio y la criminalización de los tribunales internacionales? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos a nuevas oleadas de asentamientos ilegales? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos a los planes para demoler cien casas en Yenín? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos a retener la financiación debida a la Autoridad Palestina, a la muerte violenta de mil personas en Cisjordania, donde no hay guerra, a la criminalización de la honra y su sustitución por un engendro perfectamente disfuncional? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos a la destrucción de escuelas y hospitales? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos al desplazamiento de 700 000 personas, a la retención en la frontera de la ayuda internacional, a las declaraciones —porque las palabras importan, y usted lo ha dicho— orgullosamente genocidas de los ministros del señor Netanyahu sobre el uso del hambre como arma de guerra? ¿Se pueden cerrar los ojos a 56 000 muertes, entre ellas las de 17 000 niños y 1 000 bebés de menos de un año?

Señora Bentele, le estoy preguntando si se pueden cerrar los ojos a todo esto al mismo tiempo, porque todo esto está pasando al mismo tiempo. El mismo ejército que presume de ser capaz de poner con una precisión milimétrica un misil en un apartamento en un edificio de Teherán está bombardeando en alfombra la población civil en Gaza, como en Guernica, señora Bentele, como en Guernica.

Los dobles estándares, señora Kallas, son el cáncer de la política exterior europea. Claro que podemos hacer cosas: no cerrar los ojos, llamar a las cosas por su nombre, activar las cláusulas del acuerdo que nos dan alguna capacidad de influencia sobre esa situación, dejar de vender armas a Israel, reconocer el Estado palestino y perseverar en la solución de los dos Estados.

  Juan Carlos Girauta Vidal, en nombre del Grupo PfE. – Señora presidenta, ya que no se avergüenzan ustedes, déjeme que me avergüence por usted, señora, por lo que acabo de oír. Ustedes vienen aquí con un título de debate que es una petición de principio —ese es el nombre de la falacia lógica—: detener el genocidio en Gaza. Es como si yo dijera: «vamos a debatir sobre detener el tráfico de drogas en su grupo político». Sería una mentira, igual que es mentira el genocidio.

¿Qué genocidio es ese que hace que se multiplique por diez la población palestina en Gaza desde 1950? ¿Qué genocidio es ese que hace que se multiplique por seis la población palestina en Cisjordania desde 1967? La acusación de genocidio al pueblo que ha sufrido el genocidio que ha manchado, lastrado y condenado a la modernidad en Occidente es una infamia y, además, es antisemitismo puro, según reza la propia definición de antisemitismo de la organización gubernamental llamada Alianza Internacional para el Recuerdo del Holocausto.

(El orador pronuncia unas palabras en una lengua no oficial de la Unión).

  President. – (Interjections from the floor)

We will check it. Please, colleagues. We will check what was said.

(Interjections from the floor)

Please be quiet. We will check what has been said. Let the next speaker speak.

  Sebastian Tynkkynen, on behalf of the ECR Group. – Madam President, if we dare to look at the facts, we will see that it's not Israel committing genocide.

Let me be clear. Hamas, which launched a massacre on 7 October, is a jihadist death cult that is dedicated to erasing every Jew from the river to the sea. That is a genocidal agenda. And what did Israel do? It defended itself – as any democracy must.

It is ironic how parts of this Parliament cry genocide at the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, while ignoring an Islamist regime that uses children as shields, aid as propaganda, and rapes women.

You want to talk about war crimes? Then ask why Hamas builds tunnels under hospitals and fires rockets from schools.

If Israel laid down its arms, there would be another Holocaust. If Hamas laid down theirs, there would be peace.

  Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Madam President, before I start, please stop the clock. I really need that we verify if he said 'Heil'. I really think so.

We cannot continue with somebody here on the tribune saying 'Heil'. We cannot speak – we can only look at the computer. Please do that. It will take 10 seconds and then we'll know.

  President. – As I told you, we are checking into it. Please proceed with your speech because we will not wait until the system has checked it.

So please speak. We will come back to it.

  Hilde Vautmans, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Madam President, colleagues, what you are witnessing in Gaza is not just a human tragedy. It's a giant failure of us as part of the international community. Every day Europe does not act, we become more and more complicit to acts of genocidal violence.

Yes, Israel has a right to exist and to defend itself. Yes, Israel has the right to use force to free the hostages. But what Netanyahu is doing has nothing to do with that. He is exacting collective punishment on the Palestinian people.

Tens of thousands of innocent civilians, children, mothers, aid workers have been killed. The entire Gaza Strip has been flattened. Starvation is used as a tactic of war. This is not self-defence, colleagues. This is the destruction of innocent human beings.

If Europe truly believes in a rules-based international order, then words are not enough. We must act.

High Representative, it's time for targeted EU sanctions on government officials responsible, on those blocking aid, on those fuelling illegal settlements. We need to suspend our Agreement with Israel now and stop Israeli imports to Europe.

The people of Gaza need our action to survive. We must draw the red line here. Draw the red line, colleagues.

  Tineke Strik, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Madam President, High Representative Kallas, my message to our EU leaders today is sound and clear: all eyes on Gaza. It seems evident, but apparently not for our leaders. Because time after time, Netanyahu manages to distract them from his severe war crimes against the Palestinian people, and get them on his side.

Because as a mass protest erupts across Europe demanding accountability, and as political pressure is on the rise, Netanyahu strikes Iran. That's not self-defence, but yet another display of Israel's total contempt of international law.

So, therefore, all eyes on Gaza. All eyes on the starvation, the strangling, shooting and bombing of the Palestinian people. All eyes on the destruction of their land and basic needs, and Israel's overt purpose to wipe the Palestinians out.

EU leaders, your accountability, your complicity is already a fact. But you still have a chance to stop this genocide now – not by declarations, but by actions that work.

  Hanna Gedin, för The Left gruppen. – Fru talman! I Gaza försöker mammor amma sina barn, men de har inte någon mjölk att ge eftersom de själva svälter. Jag vill be er fundera över vad det gör med en människa att se sitt barn tyna bort av hunger – att inte kunna hjälpa, att inte kunna trösta. Och som mamma kan jag inte föreställa mig någon värre smärta.

I 620 dagar så har ni tittat bort, så har ni bett oss att vara tysta om folkmordet, så har ni vänt palestinierna ryggen. I 620 dagar har ni suttit på makten att agera, men valt att inte göra det. Förstår ni inte att era barn kommer att döma er för det?

Låt budskapet från Europas gator och torg eka här inne. Ockupationen kommer att falla, bomberna kommer att tystna, folkmördarna kommer att dömas och Palestina kommer att bli fritt. Agera. Agera nu.

  Marc Jongen, im Namen der ESN-Fraktion. – Frau Präsidentin! Die linken Parteien dieses Hauses verurteilen theatralisch den von ihnen so genannten Genozid Israels in Gaza. Die Wahrheit ist: Israel geht in Gaza gegen eine Terrororganisation vor, die die eigene Bevölkerung als Schutzschild missbraucht und die ihrerseits ganz offen einen Genozid an den Juden ankündigt. Wo war denn Ihre Empörung nach den Gräueltaten der Hamas am 7. Oktober 2023? Wer nach diesem Datum noch mit Palästinensertuch ins Parlament kommt und „Free Palestine” ruft, wer auf Demos mitmarschiert, wo „From the River to the Sea“ gerufen wird, der kann sich nicht auf Humanität und Moral berufen, der macht gemeinsame Sache mit dem Islamofaschismus, der übrigens von der EU seit vielen Jahren über die UNRWA mitfinanziert wird, die bekanntermaßen von der Hamas unterwandert ist.

Ein palästinensischer Staat, Frau Kallas, den Sie für die Lösung halten, der würde ja weiterhin gegen Israel hetzen und rüsten – das kann die Lösung nicht sein. Ja, das Vorgehen Israels in Gaza ist an mancher Stelle kritikwürdig, aber erzählen wir bitte die ganze Geschichte des Konflikts, bevor wir uns hier zu moralischen Richtern aufspielen.

  President. – Colleagues, please try to avoid shouting here in the Chamber.

  Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, Commissioner, there are no two ways about it: the broader destabilisation we are witnessing across the Middle East right now is deeply worrying. We need restraint, we need de-escalation and, above all, we need leadership – not through bombs, but through dialogue and diplomacy.

But let me say this, too: we cannot allow the broader conflict between Iran and Israel to distract from the horror that continues in Gaza. The indiscriminate killing of civilians, the blocking of humanitarian aid and the starvation of an entire people: these are not footnotes to a larger conflict. They are crimes in their own right.

Ireland has always stood firmly on the side of international law and human dignity. I welcome the Irish Government's leadership on illegal settlement goods and the Tánaiste's move towards robust legislation. These are not symbolic gestures. They are real acts of political courage and they matter.

We cannot be the Europe of values only in name. There will have to be consequences for clear and repeated breaches of human rights.

So, yes, we must act to prevent a wider war, but we must also refuse to look away from Gaza, because turning a blind eye now – as children starve and families are buried beneath rubble – would be an unforgivable betrayal of everything this Union stands for.

  Evin Incir (S&D). – Madam President, history will not be kind to those who stand by while innocent civilians in Gaza are being slaughtered and starved by the far-right Israeli Government. If this was a war against Hamas, there would not be so many civilian casualties, so many children. Moreover, we must not overlook the ongoing attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank also, including the expansion of Israeli settlements.

If these actions are not a violation of international law, then what is a violation of international law? If it looks like a genocide, smells like a genocide, let me tell you what it is: it is a genocide. Let us put an end to this hypocrisy. It's time to call out Netanyahu's war crimes and to end the slaughter of innocent Palestinians; suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, sanction Netanyahu and all his ministers – not a single one, all; implement the ICC and ICJ decisions, and ensure to adopt a weapon embargo against the far-right government, which slaughters children.

Today's debate concerns the very soul of our union. We can no longer claim to be committed to peace, respect for international law and promoting these values globally if we fail to stand up for them universally, everywhere.

Free Palestine.

  Beatrice Timgren (ECR). – Fru talman! Kriget i Gaza får konsekvenser även i Europa. Vi har sett hur hot om våld från extrema delar av Palestinarörelsen nu riktar hot mot medborgare och politiker, däribland den svenska utrikesministern samt riksdagsledamot och min partikollega Jessica Stegrud.

Dessa hot utgör en allvarlig risk för vår demokrati. Det pågår inget folkmord. Hamas bär ansvaret för civilas lidande i Gaza genom att använda civila som mänskliga sköldar. UNWRA, finansierat med våra skattemedel, har kopplingar till terrorism och bör avvecklas. I stället bör andra lämpliga organisationer användas. Flera UNWRA-anställda har deltagit i Hamas attacker den sjunde oktober, och deras skolor används för att sprida antisemitism.

För att få fred och en säker framtid för både israeler och palestinier måste vi stoppa resurser till Hamas och UNWRA.

  Barry Andrews (Renew). – Madam President, High Representative, colleagues, the highest court in the world, by an overwhelming majority ordered Israel to refrain from acts that could fall under certain articles of the Genocide Convention. Israel were further ordered to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Instead, in the week that followed, a thousand people were killed in Gaza. From March to May of this year, a complete humanitarian blockade was imposed. Yesterday, the shooting gallery that is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation resulted in more than fifty Palestinian deaths. This is a policy of well-fed corpses.

We must move beyond empty statements. As I have previously argued, that means sanctions on those responsible for atrocities, and at least restrictions on trade and arms transfers.

The EU cannot continue funding aid for Palestinians with one hand, while maintaining privileged ties with their occupier with the other.

  Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE). – Señora presidenta, ayer le dije a la señora Kallas que sentía vergüenza de ser europeo, y más después de escucharla. Pero hay una Europa de la cual me siento orgulloso, porque hay dos Europas. La Europa de ella, de la señora Kallas, de la banalidad del mal, la que colabora activamente con armas y con dinero en el exterminio de un pueblo entero en Gaza, la que hemos oído hoy en boca del señor Girauta cuando ha dicho «Heil Israel» evocando el saludo nazi. Pero después hay otra Europa, la que pone el cuerpo y se juega el tipo en la Flotilla de la libertad, en el Open Arms, la de los puertos que se niegan a recibir los barcos del genocidio, la que es perseguida en El Cairo ante su silencio ensordecedor. Ni una sola palabra de condena, señora Kallas, ni siquiera cuando los afectados somos eurodiputados.

Esa otra Europa no olvida que «nunca más» era un compromiso con los pueblos perseguidos. Es la que cree que el Derecho internacional no es un lujo, sino una tabla de salvación frente a la barbarie. Es esa Europa de abajo que no preside cumbres, como la señora Kallas, pero encarna el sentido más profundo en nuestra memoria común y, en medio del horror, resiste y elige no ser cómplice. Esa Europa es la que nos salva, la que nos sostiene como humanidad y la que algún día, quizás, vencerá.

  President. – Colleagues, I was a little less strict on speaking time in the first round, when they represented the groups. Now I have to be a little stricter, so please try to stick to the speaking time.

  Νίκος Παππάς (The Left). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, βρισκόμαστε αντιμέτωποι με μια ιστορική ντροπή, που θα μείνει ως παράδειγμα προς αποφυγή για τις επόμενες γενιές. Ολόκληρες πόλεις έχουν ισοπεδωθεί, ολόκληρες οικογένειες έχουν αφανιστεί, το 90% του πληθυσμού έχει εκτοπιστεί. Τόσους μήνες που συντελείται αυτό το έγκλημα, εσείς —οι περισσότεροι δηλαδή— αδιαφορείτε. Δεν έχουν, άραγε, αυτοί οι άνθρωποι αξία για εσάς; Δεν τους υπολογίζετε; Δεν τους μετράτε; Τι είναι; Υποδεέστεροι;

Κάθε φορά που ανεβαίνω σε αυτό το βήμα για να μιλήσω για την Παλαιστίνη, σε κάθε πορεία που συμμετέχω —είτε στην Αθήνα, είτε στις Βρυξέλλες, είτε στην πορεία προς τη Γάζα— δεν νιώθω ότι εκπροσωπώ κάποιον· εκπροσωπώ τη συνείδησή μου, που ουρλιάζει από θυμό, από αγανάκτηση, μπροστά στην αδικία, για όλο αυτό που βιώνουν αυτοί οι άνθρωποι εκεί στην Παλαιστίνη.

Είναι υποκρισία, λοιπόν, να μιλάμε για ευρωπαϊκές αξίες, όταν χιλιάδες άνθρωποι σκοτώνονται και λιμοκτονούν. Και η Ευρώπη, αντί να προσπαθήσει να σταματήσει τη σφαγή, συνδιαλέγεται με τους θύτες. Δεν ζητάμε απλώς αλληλεγγύη. Ζητάμε τιμωρία.

(Η Πρόεδρος αφαιρεί τον λόγο από τον ομιλητή)

  Kateřina Konečná (NI). – Paní předsedající, kolegové, jste se sebou spokojeni? Přes rok a osm měsíců jste měli možnost zastavit genocidu, které se Izrael dopouští v Gaze, neboť izraelská armáda je na zbraních a financích z Evropské unie závislá. Ale neudělali jste to. Celou dobu přehlížíte, jak Izrael střílí do lidí, co si jdou vyzvednout pomoc, vraždí novináře a zdravotníky a zaživa upaluje civilisty v uprchlických táborech. Nyní, díky podpoře z Evropy, mohl Izrael napadnout Írán. Stíhanému válečnému zločinci Netanjahuovi jste umožnili rozpoutat další krveprolití, jenom aby se udržel u moci. Německý kancléř Merz pak přímo oslavuje izraelské válečné zločiny a prohlašuje, že za nás prý Izrael dělá naši špinavou práci.

Stydím se za Evropu. Hnusí se mi, že EU genocidu Palestinců fakticky podporuje, místo toho, aby ji zastavila. A žádám vás, nepodílejme se dále na těchto zvěrstvech, vyhlašme na Izrael zbrojní embargo a pozastavme asociační dohodu a donuťme Izrael zastavit genocidu a agresi vůči ostatním státům.

  Matjaž Nemec (S&D). – Madam President, dear colleagues, the horrors in Gaza continue. Innocent children and families are hunted for food, shot as targets every day by the Israeli army. Their only crime is hunger. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been murdered. Hospitals, schools, refugee centres are almost completely destroyed. Yet this is still not enough for some European leaders, including the Commission President and you, Ms Kallas.

Enough is enough. The EU needs to immediately suspend the Association Agreement. On Monday, this must be the conclusion. We also need to sanction the extremists in the Israeli Government. Five Western countries have done it, including the UK and Canada. Where is the EU? When, Ms Kallas, will you follow? Seriously, what more needs to happen?

We need a weapons embargo and an end to trade with the settlements. Yet, instead of diplomatic pressure to stop the genocide, Europe is deaf and blind. This is not just disappointing; this is morally sickening. Peace and justice now.

  Christophe Bay (PfE). – Madame la Présidente, depuis des années, le Rassemblement national, fidèle à la position de la France, s'est attaché à défendre la solution des deux États, un principe enraciné dans nos engagements internationaux. Mais il faut reconnaître que cet objectif se heurte à une réalité cruelle: Gaza est aujourd'hui sous le joug du Hamas, une organisation terroriste qui n'a plus organisé la moindre élection depuis 2006. L'État d'Israël évolue chaque jour dans un environnement extrêmement hostile et lutte pour sa sécurité.

Dans ces conditions, parler d'un État palestinien pacifique relève de l'illusion. Reconnaître à l'heure actuelle un État palestinien serait accorder une légitimité au Hamas, qui a multiplié les attaques violentes contre Israël, et, bien entendu, l'horrible carnage du 7 octobre. La flottille pour Gaza, orchestrée par des islamo-gauchistes, n'était rien d'autre qu'une mise en scène grotesque, guidée par l'idéologie et non par un réel souci de justice ou de paix. Loin d'apaiser les tensions, cette provocation n'a servi qu'à masquer les véritables responsables du drame: le Hamas, qui asphyxie toute perspective de paix durable.

Emmanuel Macron, qui a été prompt à s'émouvoir du sort de ces tristes personnages, reste muet face à la situation dramatique que vit Boualem Sansal. Cette indifférence révèle un mépris et une trahison des valeurs de la France. Emmanuel Macron s'incline devant cette extrême gauche par un confort idéologique et aussi, il faut reconnaître, par peur de la rue. Boualem Sansal dérange, parce que son discours se heurte aux bien-pensants. Il est temps que la France exige sa libération.

  Kristoffer Storm (ECR). – Fru formand! Det eneste folkemord, der finder sted i Gaza, er det, som Hamas udsætter såvel deres egen befolkning som israelerne i området for. For det er almen viden, at alle jøder i Gaza enten er døde eller holdes som gidsler af Hamas. Til gengæld er der næsten to millioner palæstinensere, som lever og dyrker deres religion i Israel. Så at anklage staten Israel for at udføre folkemord mod palæstinenserne er ikke bare dumt, det er også en direkte løgn fra venstrefløjens antisemitter. Som de fleste andre, så håber jeg, at krigen snart slutter, så børn og andre svage kan få mulighed, for at få den hjælp, som de har brug for. Men så længe Hamas truer Israel og ønsker jøderne udryddet, så er der desværre intet, der tyder på det. For hvis venstrefløjen virkelig bekymrer sig for civilbefolkningen, så burde de vende sig mod deres venner i Hamas og i Iran og stoppe deres leflen for terrorister, for det er en skændsel mod vores frie demokratiske samfund. Lad mig minde jer om, at Israel kæmper vores kamp, faktisk hele Vestens kamp mod islamisterne for demokratiet.

  Илхан Кючюк (Renew). – Г-жо Председател, в Газа се лее кръв отново. Само преди по-малко от 24 часа 51 души бяха убити, след като израелските сили откриха огън край място за раздаване на хуманитарна помощ. Те търсеха хляб, а намериха смърт.

Днес светът гледа как войната изяжда всичко човешко. Гледаме как деца умират, а домове се сриват. Това не е просто военен конфликт, това е целенасочено унищожение, подпечатано със съучастието на мълчанието.

И сега питам: Къде е международната общност? Къде са всички тези световни лидери? Колко още тела трябва да бъдат изнесени, за да е достатъчно?

Мълчанието вече е престъпление, а съчувствието бездействие и лицемерие. Призовавам за незабавно прекратяване на огъня, за международно разследване, за санкции, за реална хуманитарна помощ, за спасение на онова, което ни прави хора – съвестта. Не убивайте човечността!

  Ana Miranda Paz (Verts/ALE). – Señora presidenta, ya no nos quedan palabras. 20 meses sin acción en Gaza. 20 meses de complicidad. La Unión Europea se ha callado ante el genocidio y es cómplice. Porque ser cómplice es no hacer nada ante la aniquilación del pueblo palestino. ¿La señora Von der Leyen puede levantar un teléfono para hablar con Netanyahu y no puede tomar sanciones? ¿Para qué este doble estándar? Se llama racismo. La verdad es que a la Unión Europea le importan poco las vidas en Gaza. No le importa que no haya comida para los niños, muchos de ellos huérfanos, porque a sus padres los mataron las bombas de Israel. Pienso que no le importa lo que piensa el clamor de las calles europeas, desde Galicia a Bruselas. ¿O no los escuchan?

El lunes 23 el Consejo tiene la oportunidad de enmendar esta vergonzosa posición de la Unión Europea. Exijan el alto al fuego y el acceso de ayuda humanitaria, adopten sanciones, prohíban la exportación de armas, prohíban la importación de bienes y servicios, cierren embajadas, corten la cooperación científica, cultural y deportiva, rechacen la asistencia que perpetúa la ocupación y el apartheid. Dejen de ser cómplices con el genocidio de Israel en Gaza.

  Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left). – Señora presidenta, señora Kallas, son ustedes tan inmorales como los genocidas. ¿Hasta dónde va a llegar su apoyo a Israel? ¿Hasta dónde van a apoyar a un Estado genocida?

Después de asesinar impunemente a 57 000 palestinos, quemar vivos a niños, arrasar Gaza, tratar de exterminar a toda la población con hambruna, Israel ha decidido emprender una ofensiva ilegal contra Irán que nos puede llevar a una guerra nuclear a nivel mundial. Y todo esto es gracias a su apoyo incondicional, a décadas y décadas de ocupación sobre el territorio palestino, a bombardeos día tras día sobre la población civil, a la industria armamentística israelí, a cambiar el UNRWA por una empresa privada que dispara a los palestinos cuando están muertos de hambre, les asesina y encierra y les enjaula como los nazis enjaulaban a los judíos en el Holocausto. ¿De verdad usted puede dormir tranquila por las noches?

A pesar de su apoyo incondicional y criminal, el pueblo palestino resiste. Resiste también gracias a la solidaridad internacional, como la Flotilla de la Libertad o como esa marcha a Egipto, a pesar de que la dictadura egipcia la está reprimiendo. No en nuestro nombre, no en nuestro nombre, el suyo aparecerá...

(la presidenta retira la palabra a la oradora)

  Ruth Firmenich (NI). – Frau Präsidentin, Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Mehr als 50 000 Palästinenser sind mittlerweile von der israelischen Armee getötet worden. Israel zielt gemeinsam mit den USA auf eine ethnische Säuberung des Gazastreifens. Die Menschen in Gaza hungern, sie verhungern, man lässt sie verhungern. Was wir in Gaza sehen, kommt einem Völkermord gleich. Für das, was dort passiert, trägt der rechtsextreme israelische Ministerpräsident Netanjahu die Verantwortung. Verantwortlich sind aber auch seine Komplizen in Washington, in Berlin und in Brüssel.

Es ist eine Schande, dass weiter Waffen aus Europa an Israel geliefert werden und dass das Assoziierungsabkommen immer noch nicht ausgesetzt ist. Und das, obwohl Israel mittlerweile auch noch an der Seite der USA einen Angriffskrieg gegen den Iran führt. Es ist verstörend, dass Netanjahu nach wie vor auf Unterstützung der EU zählen kann.

Wenn Frau von der Leyen und Sie, Frau Kallas, diese Politik fortsetzen, könnte es sein, dass es auf Dauer nicht nur bei einem Haftbefehl des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs gegen Netanjahu bleiben wird – und das zu Recht!

  Francisco Assis (S&D). – Senhora Presidente, é com uma dupla tristeza que me dirijo hoje a esta Câmara; tristeza pelo sofrimento do povo palestiniano e tristeza por aquilo em que Israel se transformou.

Nos seus fundamentos teóricos, houve um tempo em que o sionismo inicial era uma forma de humanismo, e hoje Israel é a negação absoluta desse mesmo humanismo.

O plano do governo israelita para a apreensão total do território de Gaza constitui uma violação flagrante do direito internacional e assume contornos de limpeza étnica pura e dura.

Israel respondeu com barbárie à barbárie e, com isso, perdeu a razão toda que lhe assistia após o hediondo atentado de 7 de outubro de 2024.

A resposta da União Europeia à matança em curso na Faixa de Gaza não se pode limitar à suspensão do Acordo de Associação, ela tem de ir, claramente, mais longe.

Perante a extrema gravidade da situação, é imperativo que a União Europeia avance rapidamente com a aplicação de sanções individuais aos responsáveis políticos e militares israelitas, incluindo o congelamento de bens. Tem, além disso, de avançar com um embargo total ao fornecimento de armas a Israel e com a proibição do comércio com os colonatos ilegais.

Estas medidas são essenciais para proteger o povo palestiniano.

  Abir Al-Sahlani (Renew). – Madam President, for too long have we spoken of Palestinians suffering. For too long have we done close to nothing. Just sending money over is not enough anymore.

I know that there is not so much you can do, Madam Commissioner. But there are some things that actually you can take a lead on, and be the one who will redefine how history will look at us.

There are 40 000 displaced in the West Bank; nearly 60 000 people dead in Gaza. But we still lack an EU common action. We need actions. No more words.

Stop the Association Agreement – that's where you can take a lead, Madam Commissioner. Sanction the Netanyahu regime, like we have done with the Russians – there you can also take a lead, Madam Commissioner. Sanction the settler economy – there also you can take a lead, Madam Commissioner.

We need a leadership of action. No more words. No more hiding behind 'We are sending money', because when the money is there, the aid is stopped. It's not reaching the starving people.

  Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, siamo di fronte a un genocidio che grida giustizia: oltre 55 000 palestinesi deliberatamente uccisi, tra cui migliaia di bambini. Gaza è oggi il principale luogo di morte per i bambini nel pianeta.

L'Europa deve agire con sanzioni dure e durature, signora Kallas: embargo totale sulle armi, sospensione immediata di ogni accordo con Israele. Basta ipocrisia!

Netanyahu non va chiamato al telefono per essere sostenuto, come ha fatto Ursula von der Leyen. Che vergogna! Netanyahu deve essere arrestato e processato per crimini contro l'umanità. Ogni giorno di ritardo è un giorno di sangue.

Riconosciamo lo Stato di Palestina. Lo attendiamo da settantasette anni, probabilmente il doppio della sua vita. Fermiamo il genocidio.

  Per Clausen (The Left). – Fru formand! Desværre er der ikke noget nyt eller overraskende i, at den ekstreme højrefløj støtter folkedrab. Men jeg vil tillade mig alligevel stadigvæk at være skuffet over, at det ikke får et klart svar fra EU's ledelse. Hvorfor er det, at vi ser stille til, mens uskyldige børn i Gaza betaler prisen? Og når jeg siger det på den måde, så er det fordi, at reelt, så har EU jo ikke lagt noget som helst pres på Israel. Det er jo ikke fordi, at man ikke kan finde på metoder. I går så vi, hvordan kommissionen foreslog et stop for russisk gas, sådan at man kunne slippe uden om enkelte landes veto. Det kan man jo også gøre i forhold til Israel, hvis man vil, og derfor er jeg nødt til at spørge "Hvorfor er det, at EU ikke vil gøre noget for at stoppe folkemordet i Gaza"? Hvor mange flere uskyldige skal dø, før EU vågner op?

  Cecilia Strada (S&D). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, cara Commissaria, il governo di Israele ha attaccato l'Iran, un'altra violazione del diritto internazionale, e continua a commettere atti di genocidio a Gaza.

Nella Striscia ho un fratello, Gennaro Giudetti, un operatore umanitario dell'ONU. Ci sentiamo quasi tutti i giorni. Questo è quello che mi ha detto ieri sera.

Uno: la gestione degli aiuti tramite la Gaza Foundation è disumana. La distribuzione avviene solo in due grandi centri, dove la gente è costretta ad accalcarsi e litigare per ogni pacco di farina. Ogni volta muoiono decine di persone sotto il fuoco israeliano. La gestione degli aiuti deve essere affidata all'ONU, non a questa roba qui.

Due: l'82 % della Striscia è sotto ordine di evacuazione. La gente non sa dove andare. Dormono in spiaggia, sui marciapiedi, alle rotonde.

Tre: tra un paio di giorni finiscono le scorte di carburante. Poi niente più generatori per gli ospedali, niente ambulanze, niente di niente. Il lavoro dell'ONU è gravemente limitato, gli operatori umanitari muoiono insieme ai civili e l'Europa non riesce a fare nulla per fermare il massacro. Europa svegliati! Gli strumenti per fermare Netanyahu li abbiamo, bisogna volerli usare.

  Irena Joveva (Renew). – Madam President, finally, with the title of this debate, this Chamber is officially acknowledging what some of us have been shouting for years: what's happening in Gaza is genocide. To those of you still refusing to see it and still hiding behind courts or legal formalities, you are not only complicit, you are shameless hypocrites. You are dismantling the very legal principles you so proudly aim – or claim – to uphold.

You let the screams from Gaza be drowned out by Israeli attacks on Iran. What a coincidence, right? Just when the pressure on Netanyahu is mounting. And then the audacity: some of you still dare say Israel has a right to self-defence in that context. In what context? The Israeli army is shooting at people lining up for food. These aren't stray bullets in the fog of war. This is deliberate, cold and calculated. They've turned the little humanitarian aid into a big, deadly weapon.

Stop being complicit. Impose sanctions on Israel. If not, you are still greenlighting the genocide, because when only one side has an army, military equipment and weapons, it's not a war, it is a massacre.

  Ville Niinistö (Verts/ALE). – Arvoisa puhemies, kaikki ihmiset syntyvät vapaina ja tasavertaisina arvoltaan ja oikeuksiltaan. YK:n ihmisoikeuksien julistus takaa samat oikeudet lapsille niin Gazassa kuin Tel Avivissa tai Brysselissäkin. Tätä ei ole todellisuus Gazassa tänään: nälkiintyneet lapset, tapetut perheenjäsenet, väestön pakkosiirto keskitysleirimäisiin olosuhteisiin ja maan tasalle pommitetut kodit ja sairaalat. Yli 50 000 lasta on kuollut tai haavoittunut Israelin hyökkäyksen ja miehityksen seurauksena.

Niin kauan kuin tämä kansalaisten kansanmurha ja etninen puhdistus tapahtuu silmiemme edessä, on meillä velvollisuus puuttua siihen. Euroopan johtajien kaksinaismoralismi ja hiljaisuus tämän kansanmurhan edessä on sietämätöntä. Jos me emme puutu, me olemme osasyyllisiä.

Humanitaarisen avun on päästävä Gazaan täysimääräisesti ja vakiintuneiden kansainvälisten toimijoiden kautta. Asekauppa Israelin kanssa on lopetettava, EU:n tulee kohdistaa merkittäviä pakotteita Israelille ja kansanmurhaa edistäville päättäjille ja EU:n ja Israelin välinen assosiaatiosopimus on jäähdytettävä. Gazan lapsilla on oikeus elää.

  Özlem Demirel (The Left). – Frau Präsidentin! Wenn ein deutscher Faschist, dessen Partei in Deutschland vom Holocaust als Vogelschiss der Geschichte spricht, hier eine solche Rede hält, wenn ein italienischer Faschist, der in der Tradition des europäischen Antisemitismus steht, „Heil Israel!“ sagt – nein, Frau Präsidentin, dann bleibe ich nicht ruhig. Das sind die Antisemiten hier in diesem Hause. Das sind diejenigen, die den Holocaust relativieren. Und das sind diejenigen, die in ihrem Rassismus heute den Genozid an den Palästinensern beklatschen.

Und ja, Frau Präsidentin, ich bleibe auch nicht ruhig, wenn ich mir die Lage in Gaza anschaue. Israel begeht nicht nur einen Genozid an den Palästinensern, stellt nicht nur die komplette Existenz Palästinas infrage, sondern fängt auch einen Krieg mit Nachbarstaaten an. Und der deutsche Kanzler antwortet darauf gestern: „Danke an Israel, dass Sie unsere Drecksarbeit erledigen“. Dieser Zynismus, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen, ist so was von unerträglich. Und ja, ich als Mensch, ich als Antifaschistin, ich als friedensliebender Mensch bleibe dabei nicht ruhig. Ich sage: Die Palästinenser brauchen unsere Solidarität. Und die Heuchelei der EU ist für mich …

(Die Präsidentin entzieht der Rednerin das Wort.)

  Alex Agius Saliba (S&D). – Sinjura President, Fl-aħħar, wara għoxrin xahar dan il-parlament qam mir-raqda u għandna t-titlu li jixraq lill-Istat Iżraeljan: ġenoċidju, sparar fuq in-nies, qtil tal-innoċenti.

Saħansitra, issa qegħdin naraw sitwazzjoni fejn refuġjati li qegħdin jikkjuwjaw sabiex jingħataw biċċa ħobż, sabiex jingħataw flixkun ilma, qegħdin jinqatlu wkoll waqt li qed jistennew l-ikel. Din hija xi ħaġa inaċċettabbli u issa wasal iż-żmien wara li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea għoġobha taħbi rapport tagħha stess, li kien qed jindika li dan huwa ġenoċidju, li twettqu krimini tal-gwerra. Issa wasal iż-żmien sabiex nieħdu l-azzjoni. U iva, l-azzjoni nistgħu neħduha, l-azzjoni nistgħu neħduha, l-ewwel u qabel kollox biex il-Ftehim ta' Assoċjazzjoni jitwaqqaf bl-aktar mod possibbli, abbażi ta' Artiklu 2, sabiex nimponu l-iktar sanzjonijiet b'saħħithom fuq dan l-Istat li qed iwettaq ġenoċidju u sabiex fl-aħħar mill-aħħar dan il-parlament, fost oħrajn ma jibqax jagħti red carpet treatment lil dawk li huma parti mill-gvern ta' Netanyahu, gvern li huwa assoċjat b'mod dirett ma' ġenoċidju u ma' krimini tal-gwerra.

Ejja nqumu mir-raqda. Ejja naqbżu għal dawn il-vittmi li ta' kuljum... 

(Il-President irtirat il-kelma lill-kelliem)

  Lucia Yar (Renew). – Vážená pani predsedajúca, vážená vysoká predstaviteľka a vážení kolegovia, kolegyne. Správy z Gazy sú naozaj hrozivé. Humanitárna pomoc blokovaná, nemocnice zbombardované, viac ako pol milióna ľudí čelí hladomoru. V posledných dňoch boli zabité desiatky ľudí pri čakaní na jedlo a vodu. Voláme po mieri, ale koľkí Palestínčania sa ho reálne dožijú? Koľko ľudí ešte musí zomrieť, aby sme si ako Únia uvedomili, že vieme použiť páky, ktoré máme teraz k dispozícii? Nikto nespochybňuje právo Izraela brániť sa, ale to, čo dnes sledujeme, už dávno nie je sebaobrana. Uznania ani vyhlásenia už nestačia. Musíme byť naozaj ráznejší, ak si ctíme hodnoty, na ktorých bola Európska únia založená. Musíme trvať na pozastavení asociačnej dohody Únie s Izraelom, lebo týmto krokom môžeme zachrániť ľudské životy. To je naše minimum. Nie je to o politickej strane, ideológii ani viere. Je to o ľudskej dôstojnosti a tá dnes v Gaze leží v prachu pod troskami.

  Γιώργος Γεωργίου (The Left). – Κυρία Πρόεδρε, κυρία Kallas, σήμερα έχετε τα γενέθλιά σας, να ζήσετε. Αλλά ξέρετε κάτι; Εκεί στη Γάζα δεν έχουν την πολυτέλεια να σκέφτονται τα γενέθλιά τους. Εκεί στη Γάζα, το μόνο που σκέφτονται είναι πότε θα έρθει η ώρα του θανάτου τους. Το λένε εξέχοντες Ισραηλινοί —ακόμη και ο κύριος Olmert, ο πρώην πρωθυπουργός— ότι ο Netanyahu διαπράττει γενοκτονία στη Γάζα, σκοτώνει παιδιά για χόμπι. Είναι ένας εγκληματίας πολέμου με βάση το Διεθνές Ποινικό Δικαστήριο. Τώρα επιτίθεται στο Ιράν, βάζοντας φωτιά σε όλη τη Μέση Ανατολή.

Διερωτώμαι αν είναι αυτή η Μέση Ανατολή που θέλουμε να φτιάξουμε. Η νέα Γκουέρνικα στις μέρες μας είναι η Γάζα και είναι η μεγάλη ντροπή του δυτικού κόσμου. Τερματίστε αμέσως τη συμφωνία σύνδεσης με το Ισραήλ. Συντελείται μπροστά στα μάτια σας μια γενοκτονία. Στους πόσους θανάτους θα αντιδράσετε; Γιατί συνεχίζετε να στηρίζετε έναν εγκληματία πολέμου; Σταματήστε, επιτέλους, να επιβραβεύετε τη βαρβαρότητα του Ισραήλ. Εκτός και αν έχετε γίνει και εσείς πλέον τόσο βάρβαροι.

  Elio Di Rupo (S&D). – Madame la Haute représentante, la guerre en Iran gomme médiatiquement Gaza et ça arrange M. Netanyahou. Nous devons distinguer M. Netanyahou et son gouvernement de l'ensemble du peuple d'Israël et de l'ensemble des juifs du monde.

Moi, je me suis battu, toujours, contre l'antisémitisme et je le ferai jusqu'à mon dernier souffle. Mais ce qui se passe à Gaza est véritablement un génocide et j'ai beaucoup étudié les clauses juridiques: tout est la réalité aujourd'hui. Je pense sincèrement que l'Union européenne ne peut pas rester silencieuse. On doit sauver les Palestiniens. Ils ont le droit de vivre dignement, même s'ils sont sous la coupe, pour certains, du Hamas. On doit libérer les otages. Et quels sont les instruments que nous avons, si ce n'est pour le moment l'association qui existe avec Israël? Je pense qu'on doit montrer notre détermination, au nom de l'humanité et de nos valeurs humanistes.

  Billy Kelleher (Renew). – Madam President, 50 000 people dead in Gaza, hospitals targeted by bombs, schools attacked, the West Bank killings, displacements, illegal settlements, International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court rulings, fundamental breaches of international law, genocide in Gaza, using food and aid as a weapon of war – as a weapon of war. Israel acts with impunity because we have granted it immunity.

We have done nothing to address the fundamental issues, which are that a two-state solution is required, that the Palestinians have an entitlement to statehood and their own lands, and that Israel has an entitlement to exist and defend itself. But we have always taken only one side in this debate. We are losing our moral authority. We are losing any shred of credibility. We have to act as an honest broker. The unconditional support by the President of the Commission to Israel simply is unacceptable, and a fundamental breach of trust and the Treaties on which this Union ...

(The President cut off the speaker)

  Estrella Galán (The Left). – Señora presidenta, por primera vez en este Parlamento, se usa esa palabra que tanto está costando reconocer: genocidio. Han hecho falta casi sesenta mil muertos y que asesinen a un niño cada cuarenta y cinco minutos para mover una sola palabra. ¿Cuántos muertos más vamos a necesitar para que muevan ustedes un solo dedo?

El régimen criminal israelí está exterminando y matando a todo un pueblo, bloquea la llegada de ayuda humanitaria, secuestra y encarcela ilegalmente a una diputada de este Parlamento —a mi compañera Rima Hassan—, y ustedes no mueven un dedo. Ustedes siguen sin romper el Acuerdo de la Unión Europea con Israel, sin embargar el comercio de armas y sin llevar a Netanyahu ante la justicia.

Hoy, señora Kallas, que es precisamente su cumpleaños, creo que el mejor regalo que puede hacer a su conciencia y también a la nuestra es actuar de una vez, porque los ciudadanos están hartos. Y ¿sabe de qué? De que no se mueva un dedo, de este silencio cómplice. El régimen de Israel se está llevando por delante a un pueblo entero. Actúen antes de que también...

(la presidenta retira la palabra a la oradora)

  Ciaran Mullooly (Renew). – Madam President, High Representative Kallas, President van der Leyen must clarify her recent remarks to the Prime Minister of Israel. Specifically, what does she mean, the right to defend oneself? What are the boundaries of that right?

Because what we're witnessing in Gaza is not self-defence. It's the deliberate starvation of women and children. It's the obstruction of humanitarian aid, food, water and medical supplies to an entire population. Even as the mother, as a former doctor, she knows what she's doing. This is the this is the result of her words.

As Members of this Parliament, we cannot remain silent, ladies and gentlemen, we must take a stance. The European Union has a moral duty, not just a diplomatic option, to intervene for the sake of the people. We must demand unrestricted access for humanitarian aid, including food and medicine. We can do these things even outside of the Council. Mobilise EU resources immediately to assist relief efforts on the ground, and we must demand that Israel provide meaningful cooperation, not just rhetoric, to avoid a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.

History will judge how we respond to that this moment. Some people in this House should be ashamed of what they haven't done so far. We must not be found wanting.

  Mimmo Lucano (The Left). – Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, chi rimane indifferente davanti a un genocidio è complice. Di fronte alla distruzione sistematica del popolo palestinese, le nostre istituzioni hanno voltato lo sguardo, coperto gli occhi, tappato le orecchie.

Qui, in quest'Aula, il silenzio è assordante. Avete legittimato la violenza coloniale con l'alibi della sicurezza di Israele. Ma quale sicurezza può giustificare l'uccisione di oltre 55 000 civili e la fame usata come arma? Israele ha superato ogni linea rossa, ha calpestato ogni principio di umanità.

Eppure, le porte dell'Unione europea restano aperte, gli accordi in vigore, le forniture militari continuano. Perché? Perché siete complici? Perché Ursula von der Leyen è complice, Kaja Kallas è complice e questo Parlamento è complice? Allora diciamolo apertamente: l'Unione europea ha fallito, è diventata garante dell'impunità israeliana, complice di un genocidio in diretta.

Proprio per questo oggi chiedo ciò che avrebbe dovuto essere fatto da mesi: sanzioni immediate contro lo Stato di Israele, sospensione dell'accordo di associazione, libertà per il popolo palestinese.

  Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left). – Señora presidenta, Israel está cometiendo un genocidio contra el pueblo palestino. Ha sobrepasado todos los límites de la indecencia humana y la humanidad, hoy, relaciona el nombre de Israel con el de un país merecedor del máximo de los desprecios por parte de la comunidad internacional.

Israel ha vulnerado premeditada y flagrantemente la legalidad internacional en repetidas ocasiones y ha llevado a cabo constantemente una campaña de agresión contra sus Estados vecinos. Ha atacado el Líbano y Siria, y ahora está bombardeando Irán para provocar un cambio de régimen, esgrimiendo argumentos intervencionistas junto a los Estados Unidos.

Hay que cortar lazos con Israel. Israel ya es un Estado paria para la mayoría de la gente decente del mundo, que jamás en su vida podrá comprar una naranja de origen israelí, porque no podrá borrar de su mente que Israel ha asesinado a sesenta mil personas en el último año, y la mitad de ellas, niños.

Señora Kallas, ya no hay nada que esperar: hay que suspender ya el Acuerdo de Asociación UE‑Israel. Europa no puede permanecer impasible y mucho menos convertirse en colaboradora necesaria de un genocidio.

  Jussi Saramo (The Left). – Arvoisa puhemies, Israelin hirmutöissä ei ole ollut kyse itsepuolustuksesta. Täälläkin on suljettu korvat paitsi palestiinalaisten avunhuudoilta, myös Israelin johtajien omilta puheilta.

Kyse on koko ajan ollut palestiinalaisten hävittämisestä, etnisestä puhdistuksesta. Se on näkynyt puheiden lisäksi tekoina jo vuosikymmeniä: miehityksenä ja sortona. Estämällä rauha, jopa tukemalla Hamasia, on estetty Palestiinan valtion synty.

Nyt lapsia murhataan tuhansittain. Palestiinalaiset toimittajat tapetaan, ulkomaalaisia estetään raportoimasta. Mutta lännessä toistellaan Israelin oikeutta puolustautua. Miten te pystytte nukkumaan yönne? 1940-luvulla moni sanoi, ettei tiennyt. Mutta nyt sama selitys ei mene läpi. Kuvat EU-johtajista kättelemässä hymyillen kansanmurhaajaa jäävät historiaan.

Assosiaatiosopimuksen jäädyttäminen ei riitä. Tarvitaan kauppasaarto. Tarvitaan lopullinen kaksinaismoraalin hylkääminen ja johdonmukainen ihmisyyden puolustus.

  President. – Dear colleagues, we have been looking into the matter you raised on a previous speech, and no language of the kind you referred to was used.

  Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. – Madam President, I'm listening here, and you are speaking like I'm the sole responsible for what is happening in Palestine. But I'm not representing myself here, I'm representing 27 Member States. If it would be up to me personally, I would take these decisions, but it's not. I'm representing 27 Member States, and that is the frustration that I have.

There are accusations here that I've been silent. The gentleman Mr Lucano, from The Left – he came in before his speech and left after his speech. So, he didn't listen to my speech in the first place, and also my interventions afterwards.

So, how can you say that I've been silent? Because I haven't been silent. I've been very vocal about this, also about international law and everything. So this is just simply not true.

But I also try to do something to alleviate the human suffering that is happening in Palestine, like I was telling yesterday. But because many of you were not here in the Plenary, I can repeat what I said. Yes, it is very painful for me to see the suffering. When I'm hearing that 50 people have been killed in the line for getting flour, it is painful. Of course I ask myself, 'What more can we do?'

I'm in contact with the Israeli counterpart, because I'm putting the pressure on them to actually let the aid in, to help the people, not to weaponise the humanitarian aid, to use the structures that are already there to alleviate the suffering.

Sanctions need unanimity, and again, I'm representing 27. Yes, you can say, 'Take the lead and present these things.' But what use is it if I do this? I feel better myself that I've done something, but actually, I know that this will not go through. I know that this will not go through, and then it will just show that we don't have a common position.

All of those who have spoken here, I recommend you – especially from those countries whose governments are representing a different view – put the pressure on the governments to really change their position.

We had the discussion on doing the review of the Association Council. Two thirds of Member States were in favour of doing this, which shows that public support, public opinion in your Member States is changing, and that makes the governments also act and change their position in the Council.

Of course, there are tools, like I said yesterday. We also need consensus in the College. So those tools that don't need unanimity of all the Member States still require consensus in the College. In the College, we have 27 Member States represented, and the College Commissioners come with that.

Of course, there are violations of international law. I agree. I try to do as much as possible to help.

When it comes to parallels with Ukraine, the difference is that there we have 27 Member States all agreeing, and that's why we can do these things.

But sanctions need unanimity. They need everybody on board, and we don't have 27 Member States. That's the reality.

  President. – Thank you very much for this. Thank you to all who participated in this debate.

The debate is closed.