First time since the conflict began that the EU has made a call for a ceasefire

Huge numbers of deaths and destruction could have been avoided

European Council’s failure to attribute responsibility to Israel sends message of impunity

‘Yesterday’s call for a ceasefire is long overdue, but it is an insufficient step given the horrors that Palestinian civilians have been enduring over the past six months’ - Eve Geddie

In response to the European Council’s decision to call for a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, Eve Geddie, Amnesty International’s Head of the European Institutions Office, said: 

“Yesterday’s call for a ceasefire is long overdue, but it is an insufficient step given the horrors that Palestinian civilians have been enduring over the past six months.

“More than 32,000 people have been killed in Israel’s ruthless and indiscriminate military campaign, over a thousand children have become amputees, entire neighbourhoods and towns have been reduced to debris, the healthcare system has been almost entirely destroyed, and with an imminent, Israeli-engineered famine is now looming, all of this could have been avoided and prevented had a ceasefire by all parties been reached earlier.

“What is happening in Gaza is a man-made humanitarian catastrophe and all those responsible for crimes under international law must be held accountable. Hamas and other armed groups must be held accountable for war crimes they committed on 7 October, including hostage-taking, and for the ongoing unlawful rocket attacks, but calls for accountability must be consistent and responsibility cannot be obscured.

“The European Council’s failure in attributing responsibility to Israel for its gross violations of international law is sending a message of impunity and contributing to the catastrophe in Gaza.

“The dire situation has been partly exacerbated by some member states discrediting and cutting off vital lifesaving aid to UNRWA and leaving people trapped without access to food or clean water while being shelled and bombarded by arms and ammunition exported by some EU member states to Israel.

“The European Union and member states must take concrete measures and tangible steps to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. They must fully reinstate funding for UNRWA and cease all export of arms and ammunitions to Israel. A full review of Israel’s respect of its human rights obligations must be conducted. They must also recognise the root causes of the conflict, and call for an end to Israeli apartheid against Palestinians and an end to the occupation.”