The first hearing in a landmark lawsuit against Israel enters its second day on Friday at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ). #EuropeDecoded

The first hearing in a landmark lawsuit against Israel enters its second day on Friday at the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ).

  • roastedDeflator@kbin.social
    OP
    0·
    10 months ago

    EU staff members express fury over von der Leyen stance on Israel-Hamas conflict - Fri Oct 20 2023

    Letter with 842 signatures accuses European Commission of giving ‘a free hand to the acceleration and the legitimacy of a war crime’ in Gaza

    Staff members of EU institutions have written to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expressing fury over her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, in a letter that accumulated 841 signatures.

    The letter, which has been seen by The Irish Times, accuses the commission of giving “a free hand to the acceleration and the legitimacy of a war crime in the Gaza Strip”.

    It begins by condemning the Hamas attack on Israel before continuing: “We equally strongly condemn the disproportionate reaction by the Israeli government against 2.3 million Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip”.

    “We hardly recognise the values of the EU in the seeming indifference demonstrated over the past few days by our Institution toward the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip,” it continues.

    • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
      0·
      10 months ago

      Yea, seems about right. Like the only other thing the EU can even do, other than the strongly worded letter, is an embargo I guess but I don’t think the EU does much business with Israel anyways so it would be symbolic anyways and Germany would veto it the first chance it got.

      • roastedDeflator@kbin.social
        OP
        0·
        10 months ago

        You honestly don’t think the EU does much business with Israel?
        Well, they do.

        Check out this link from the EU for more details: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/israel/european-union-and-israel_en?s=200

        Delegation of the European Union to the State of Israel

        The European Union and Israel

        The European Union and Israel share a long common history, marked by growing interdependence and cooperation. Both share the same values of democracy, respect for freedom and rule of law and are committed to an open international economic system based on market principles. Over five decades of trade, cultural exchanges, political cooperation and a developed system of agreements have cemented these relations.
        …

        • FluffyPotato@lemm.ee
          0·
          10 months ago

          Huh, 1/3 of Israel’s total trade, that is a surprise for sure. Must be more western European countries then. Well I hope the Hague finds them guilty and the EU does some heavy sanctions then.