EU on Gaza / “Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel causes famine”

Israel is causing famine in the Gaza Strip and using hunger as a weapon of war, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said today, a charge Israel’s foreign minister immediately rejected.

“In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people,” Borrell said at the opening of a humanitarian aid summit in Gaza. “This is unacceptable. Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is causing famine,” he added.

Gaza is facing famine. According to @theIPCinfo100% of people are acutely food insecure; in the North, 70% are facing famine. Hunger can’t be used as a weapon of war.

W/ @JanezLenarcicwe urge Israel to allow free, unimpeded, safe humanitarian access.https://t.co/1DAMzG5G3t

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 18, 2024

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz urged Borel to “stop the attacks on Israel and recognize our right to self-defense against the crimes of Hamas.” In a post on Platform X, Katz said Israel had allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza “by land, air and sea” but the distribution of that aid had been “violently disrupted” by Hamas militants in “cooperation” with his agency. UN for Palestine Refugees UNRWA.

Israel allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help. Despite Hamas violently disrupting aid convoys and @UNRWA‘s collaboration with them, we persist. It’s time for EU Foreign Minister @JosepBorrellF to stop attacking Israel and…

— Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) March 18, 2024

Sanctions on Hamas and settlers

Before the start of the EU’s General Affairs Council, Borrell appeared optimistic that today foreign ministers would reach an agreement to impose sanctions on both Hamas and violent Israeli settlers who “harass Palestinians” in the West Bank, he told reporters.

Diplomatic sources said on Friday that the EU was close to a deal to impose sanctions on settlers who attack Palestinians after Hungary lifted its objections.