Bombing of aid ship ‘Conscience’ off the coast of an EU member state and the mass starvation of Gaza calls for investigation, arms embargo and suspension of EU-Israel Association Agreement.

In a press conference this afternoon, MEPs from The Left and the Greens/EFA groups in the European Parliament, called for an immediate investigation into the bombing of the humanitarian aid ship ‘Conscience’ off the coast of Malta last week. 

MEPs also called for concrete actions against Israel including the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, an arms embargo and sanctions in response to the recent decision by Israel’s security cabinet to seize Gaza in its entirety, and the policy of forced starvation in the enclave.

Chair of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Palestine, Left MEP Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin, Ireland) said: “The United Nations have reported that since January, about 10,000 cases of acute malnutrition among children have been identified. The Freedom Flotilla recognises what EU leaders will not – a crime against our collective humanity, a war crime. We need a full investigation and accountability for this attack and for the perpetrators to be held to account.”

Left MEP and former ship’s captain in the Mediterranean Carola Rackete (Die Linke, Germany) said: “The Freedom Flotilla is taking a high risk to expose the famine in Gaza that is happening on purpose with genocidal intent. We are not just asking for an investigation into the attack, but for the EU to take wider concrete steps. Stopping arms shipments to Israel is the bare minimum.”

Zohar Chamberlain Regev of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition brought her own testimony to the press conference; “Humanitarian aid missions such as ours are compliant with the orders of the International Court of Justice. We have a right to sail to our brothers and sisters in Palestine.” 

Voices from across the political spectrum in Europe have reacted with shock and anger at the EU’s failure to react to the bombing of the  ‘Conscience’ aid vessel off the coast of Malta. Neither the Commission President, nor EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, have made any public statements regarding the bombing as of yet.