The EU Parliament's Controversial Vote on Gaza: Examining the EU's Complicity in the Genocide against Civilians
Since the onset of the Israeli war on Gaza, the European Union (EU) has deceptively attempted to present itself as a stalwart defender of human rights. However, over the course of more than a hundred days of relentless Israeli aggression on the Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people, Brussels has failed to exert any pressure on the Israeli regime to cease its war crimes against civilians. These double standards, particularly evident in pro-Isareli approaches adopted by countries like Germany and France, have severely tarnished the EU’s credibility on the global stage.
Nevertheless, the EU has made few shy attempts to rehabilitate its image, with one of the most recent endeavors being a European Parliament vote on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Predictably, the parliament witnessed vehement disagreements regarding the terms of this proposed ceasefire.
The provisions put forth for consideration included the release of hostages by Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza. Naturally, right-wing factions rallied behind the bill, while the center-right emphasized that the ceasefire should not be subject to the aforementioned prerequisites. The leftists, on the other hand, staunchly opposed the plan, contending that the ceasefire must be contingent upon specific conditions, particularly the eradication of Hamas. Ultimately, this plan secured approval with 312 votes in favor, further eroding Europe's ethical credibility.
The recent vote in the European Parliament has sparked a range of strong reactions. Adel Atieh, the deputy head of the Palestinian delegation, expressed his disappointment over what he perceives as a moral failure on the part of the European Parliament. Nonetheless, he acknowledged certain "positive" aspects of the vote, such as its call for an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its support for the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) examination of Israel's war crimes.
According to other observers, the approved text appears to align closely with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's vision for peace negotiations, granting Israel tacit permission to persist in its systematic killing and genocide without shouldering any meaningful responsibility. This conspicuous departure from Europe's commitment to human rights has become increasingly apparent as leftist members of the European Parliament who opposed this plan have taken to cyberspace to criticize it, viewing it as a moral downfall for Europe.
Unfortunately, the Gaza ceasefire proposal ratified by the EU Parliament lacks any binding force for member states and primarily serves as an advisory measure. The passage of such a plan can, however, provide European leaders with a unified perspective when deliberating the EU’s future course of action. It is crucial to acknowledge that not all European countries, such as the UK, endorse the idea of a ceasefire, while other members advocate only for "temporary" pauses in hostilities to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid rather than a comprehensive cessation of violence against civilians.
In a recent effort to assert its role as an influential global actor, EU Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has unveiled a ten-point plan geared towards advancing peace talks. This plan represents a continuation of Europe's calculated positioning, aimed solely at safeguarding its own interests rather than saving innocent lives.
It seems that Europe, in shedding its human rights façade, is now seeking to exploit circumstances to its own advantage rather than pursuing justice. Europe, at present, can conveniently fulfill part of its economic needs by trading arms and capitalizing in the Middle East, using the money to support regimes like the one in Kyiv. Thanks to its parliament and statesmen, Europe now possesses the necessary license to obfuscate the horrors of the Gaza genocide, becoming an accomplice in Israeli genocide against Palestinians. Nonetheless, whether European leaders can successfully sway public opinion and garner support from their own people in favor of Israel remains an open question that only time will answer.
