For the World Health Organization, the Gaza Strip is experiencing “hell” after more than 100 days of conflict and attacks in which more than 24,000 people have died. Despite the deterioration of the situation, the European Parliament does not agree to ask for a permanent ceasefire. That’s what they claim social democrats, liberals, greens and the European left in resolutions on the humanitarian situation, the need for a ceasefire and the risk of regional escalation that they will vote on Thursday. Neither the PPE nor the ultra-conservatives – the extreme right does not support it either – – include the petition in their respective texts.
Although the groups will try to agree on a common declaration that will be voted on Thursday, the division over the request for a permanent ceasefire remains evident. He draft resolution raised by the socialists calls for “an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to violence for de-escalation and full compliance with international law and international humanitarian law.” It also calls on Israel to stop “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians resulting from collective punishment on the population living in the Gaza Strip.” The European Left, for its part, advocate asking an “immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire.” The Greens/ALE ask to “all parties an immediate cessation of hostilities and to agree to a permanent ceasefire” while the text promoted by liberals underlines “the need for a permanent ceasefire and the resumption of efforts towards a political solution.”
Hostage release
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In front of this block, nor European People’s Partynor the ECR ultraconservatives Not even the extreme right of ID views the request favorably. “We all want this to end and there is a solution for it: the release of the Israeli hostages and the demilitarization of Gaza,” warned the popular MEP Antonio Lopez Isturiz. “Establishing a ceasefire is simple. Hamas has to release all the hostages, including the bodies of those murdered,” agreed the Swedish ultra-conservative. Charlie Weimers. “They are only concerned about the humanitarian situation of the enemies of Israel who are also the enemies of our Western values,” the German far-right responded during the debate. Sylvia Limmer.
During the debate, in which the Belgian Foreign Minister participated, Hadja Lahbibon behalf of the current EU Presidency and the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Janez Lenarcicsocialists, greens and left have put the emphasis on the three months of attacks and bombings that the Strip has suffered and the damage to a population that has seen more than 24,000 people die, the equivalent, according to the socialist Pedro Marques, “5 million deaths if we were talking about the European Union,” he said during the debate held by the plenary session. “1% of the population of Gaza: 10,000 children, entire families, teachers, journalists, workers of international organizations. This carnage must stop. There must be a permanent ceasefire. All the hostages must be released. Use all the lever we have to stop this war,” claimed the Catalan MEP Jordi Solé. During another debate held last October, the groups also did not agree on calling for a permanent ceasefire. They did agree then to request a humanitarian pause.