No measures to stop the onslaught in Gaza or end the war in Ukraine arise from this week’s European Council

On Gaza, as Europeans continue to see video evidence of at least 400 civilians killed by Israeli forces in Gaza in the last week alone, the European Council seemed to be living in a parallel universe with the summit’s latest agreed approach. In their conclusions, EU leaders continued to use the same tired language, politely calling for Israel to stop starving millions of Palestinians to death and shooting them at aid distribution centres. 

The strongest language the European Council could muster was that it “takes note” of a report detailing endless war crimes against the civilian population of Gaza, stating that it will “follow-up” in a month’s time. 

The Left Co-Chair Manon Aubry (La France Insoumise, France) said: “As expected, the EU Council has fallen for Netanyahu’s playbook. He has diverted attention from the genocide in Gaza by bringing us to the brink of nuclear war with Iran. Meanwhile it has taken over 20 months for a report that finds what everyone already knows – that Israel is breaking international law in Gaza. The Council Conclusions today will not save lives or do anything to ameliorate the situation in the Middle East. When will be the right time to recognise the State of Palestine and suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, when there are no Palestinians left?”

Meanwhile, the 26 EU leaders who signed a communiqué at the European Council summit today seem to have reached the limits of their imagination when it comes to concrete measures to end the war in Ukraine.

Co-chair of the Left Martin Schirdewan (Die Linke, Germany) said: “Sanctions and economic pressure have been important tools to stop Putin’s war, but after three and a half years it is clear we need fresh initiatives. Trump’s hardheaded approach has not worked, and neither has the EU’s mixed approach. I think the 50 year anniversary between the EU and China marks a good time to start common initiatives with other global players to put the pressure on Russia to end this catastrophic war.”