On September 9, the European Parliament and the new EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, once again debated the dramatic situation in Gaza — the confirmed famine, the release of hostages, and the urgent need to finally take concrete steps toward a two-state solution.
A new Israeli offensive is destroying entire neighborhoods in Gaza City. In the West Bank, settlement expansion is making a two-state solution practically impossible. And with its attack on Doha, the Israeli government has violated international law.
The Parliament has repeatedly demanded — most recently in April: an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, as well as free access and continuous distribution of humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza. It also supports the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen finally proposed the first steps: sanctions against Israeli ministers, a partial suspension of trade relations under the Association Agreement, and ending direct payments to Israel from the EU budget. On September 11, the European Parliament adopted a resolution firmly backing these proposals.
Yet, debates in Parliament still take place between two entrenched camps. Only half of Von der Leyen’s own political family supported her demands. But it is time for the Parliament to stand united behind one simple truth: From the river to the sea, all people should be free. Free from hunger, bombs, and rockets. Free from hostage-taking and terror. Free from oppression, antisemitism, and racism. Free to love, to live, and to raise their children in safety and peace. And the Member States — especially the German government — must finally end their obstruction. Chancellor Merz cannot complain about others blocking when it comes to Ukraine aid and then do the same elsewhere.
My speech
In my speech on Tuesday, I made it clear: the increasingly brutal actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and in the settlements cannot stay without consequences. Together with the Greens/EFA Group, I called for an immediate end to the violence, full humanitarian access, sanctions against ministers, an end to arms exports, and the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. And I emphasized that, above all, the German government must stop blocking measures in the Council. More on this in Der Spiegel.
Our Resolution
After the debate, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on September 11 in which Members of Parliament, among other things:
- support von der Leyen’s proposals
- condemn Israel’s imposed humanitarian blockade that has caused famine in Gaza and call for unrestricted humanitarian access
- strongly criticize Israel’s aggressive actions in the West Bank and the expansion of its settlement policy
- acknowledge that Israel’s right to self-defense does not justify arbitrary military action
- call for a full investigation into violations of international law
- express support for the recognition of a Palestinian state
- call for a partial suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in trade-related areas
