Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez issued a joint letter to President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen regarding Israel today, Wednesday, February 14.
In their joint letter, the leaders of Ireland and Spain have requested that the European Commission "urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza."
The EU's commitment to human rights and dignity can have no exceptions. Given the critical situation in Rafah, Ireland and Spain have just requested the @EU_Commission to urgently review whether Israel is complying with its obligations to respect human rights in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/9ZvzCjC2yM
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) February 14, 2024
Varadkar and Sánchez wrote that they are "deeply concerned at the deteriorating situation in Israel and in Gaza, especially the impact the ongoing conflict is having on innocent Palestinians, especially children and women.
"The expanded Israeli military operation in the Rafah area poses a grave and imminent threat that the international community must urgently confront."
The two leaders made note of the number of deaths, injuries, and people displaced, as well as the "wholesale destruction of homes and extensive damage to vital civilian infrastructure, including hospitals."
They wrote: "We have repeatedly expressed our total condemnation of Hamas' indiscriminate terrorist attacks of October 7th and call for the immediate and unconditional release of remaining hostages.
"We have been equally clear that Israel has a right to defend itself from such attacks, but this may only be exercised in line with international law, including International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and international human rights law. The response must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution."
They continued: "Against the background of the risk of an even greater humanitarian catastrophe posed by the imminent threat of Israeli military operations in Rafah, and given what has occurred, and continues to occur in Gaza since October 2023, including widespread concern about possible breaches of IHL and international human rights law by Israel, we ask that the Commission undertake an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its obligations, including under the EU/Israel Association Agreement, which makes respect for human rights and democratic principles an essential element of the relationship; and if it considers that it is in breach, that it proposes appropriate measures to the Council to consider."
They two noted "the pressing need for a political perspective to end the conflict," adding that "The implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to make sure this cycle of violence does not repeat itself.
"The EU has a responsibility to take action to make this a reality, in coordination with the parties and the international community, including through an international peace conference, as agreed by the European Council on 26 October.
"Given his role in the matter, we are also copying this letter to EUHR Vice President Borrell."
According to RTÉ News, the European Commission confirmed that it has received the letter and said it would study it before commenting in detail.
Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali said: "We do urge all sides when it comes to Israel to respect international law and we note that there must be respect, that there must be accountability for violations of international law, that the EU consistently underlines the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians at all times in line with international humanitarian law and it deplores all loss of civilian lives.
"The EU continues to pass these messages in all its statements as well, bilaterally in its contacts with the Israeli authorities."
The joint letter comes two days after Ireland's Tánaiste Micheál Martin condemned the Israeli bombardment of Rafah as "inhumane" and "unacceptable."
On Wednesday, UNWRA said: "Increased airstrikes in Rafah have heightened fears which would further hamper overstretched humanitarian operations. Nearly 1.5 million people are in Rafah, more than six times the population in comparison with before 7 October."
UNWRA added: "According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza as of 12 February, at least 28,340 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October. About 70 percent of those killed are reported to be women and children. Another 67,984 Palestinians have been reportedly injured."
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