Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002193/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Elio Di Rupo (S&D), Chloé Ridel (S&D), Maria Ohisalo (Verts/ALE), Nora Mebarek (S&D), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Marc Botenga (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Cecilia Strada (S&D), Danilo Della Valle (The Left), Wouter Beke (PPE), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Carola Rackete (The Left), Thomas Bajada (S&D), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), André Rodrigues (S&D), Liesbet Sommen (PPE), Brando Benifei (S&D), Carla Tavares (S&D), Nikos Papandreou (S&D), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D)
On 19 May 2025, Prime Minister Netanyahu cynically invoked the need to prevent famine for diplomatic reasons, authorising a derisory resumption of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, while declaring Israel’s aim to take full control of the territory.
This minimal easing follows a critical crisis caused by Israel’s total blockade for over two months, violating Article 59(1) of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
This deliberate obstruction of aid to over two million Palestinians has created a situation of near starvation, with 4 000 children suffering from severe malnutrition. Meanwhile, over 90 % of the population has been forcibly displaced, 400 humanitarian workers have been killed since 7 October 2023, and constant bombing has destroyed 60 % of the building stock.
Given the intensification of violence announced by Israel, but also considering the small success of diplomatic pressure, enabling limited humanitarian aid in the area:
- 1.Will the Commission intensify diplomatic pressure through economic measures and implement an arms embargo to force more humanitarian aid access?
- 2.Will the Commission invoke Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement to suspend it until Israel complies with its international obligations?
- 3.Will Commissioner Lahbib travel to Gaza to negotiate further humanitarian aid access, as she did in Darfur in April?
Submitted: 2.6.2025