European Parliament: “Trade relations with Israel must be suspended”

BRUSSELS, Aug. 06 (YPA) – Forty-one members of the European Parliament called on the European Union (EU) to suspend the partnership agreement with “Israel” and impose sanctions on illegal settlers, in light of the ongoing violations against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The MEPs sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaya Kallas, stressing that the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank constitute a clear violation of international law.

They noted that since October 7, 2023, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and more than 7,000 others have been injured, while the blockade on Gaza and the denial of humanitarian aid have led to mass starvation and the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians.

The letter emphasized that the EU must not remain silent in response to these violations and called for the activation of Article 2 of the EU-Israel partnership agreement, which stipulates respect for human rights and requires the immediate suspension of trade relations.

The European Parliament members also called for a travel ban on Zionist settlers involved in violence, a freeze on their financial assets, and the revocation of their dual European citizenship, if any.

The letter also stressed the need to confront the occupation’s attempts to undermine the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), calling for support for the agency to enable it to continue its vital humanitarian role.

YPA