Ban Weapons Exports to Israel
We cannot stop talking about Palestine. Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. More than 97,000 people are injured.[1]
Israel is committing war crimes on a massive scale. To name a few: using starvation as a weapon of war, resulting in the International Criminal Court of Justice ruling that famine is setting in. Meanwhile, Israel is blocking all possibilities of aid entering the Gaza Strip. [2] In the northern region of Gaza, over 70% of the Palestinian population is projected to suffer from a level 5 IPC status, indicating a state of Catastrophe/Famine, while the remaining 30% are projected at a level 4 status (Emergency). [4] Next to that, Israel has killed civilians while they were collecting food aid.[3]
Of course, Hamas must immediately release the civilian hostages - just as Israel should release Palestinians who have been wrongfully and arbitrarily detained both before and since October 7th. Israel should take meaningful steps to secure the release of the people held hostage, instead of using them as pretext to indiscriminately harm Palestinian civilians through military strikes, siege tactics, mass forced displacement, and the establishment and expansion of illegal settlements.
Tension and violence are expanding through the region
The ongoing escalation of violence increased and expanded worryingly to neighbouring countries during the past year. In Lebanon, the IDF is responsible for the death of more than 1,600 people and for the displacement of 200,000 civilians [5]. At the same time, Hezbollah’s attacks in Israel killed and injured civilians, and constitute a grave violation of international law. Retaliations between the Iranian regime and Israel have also been contributing to this increase of tensions in various instances since 2023 [6] [7]. All parties, including the governments of the countries involved in this escalation and enacting breaches of international law and violation of human rights, as well as Hezbollah, Hamas, and other governmental or guerrilla groups using terrorism and violence in the area must be held accountable for their actions.
Nothing justifies this killing.
Israel is crossing all the lines. The international community MUST ACT NOW!
In the context of retaliation, Israel breached UN’s peacekeepers positions in Lebanon (8) , and its far-right government called for the withdrawal of the peacekeeping force, a demand that has been rejected by the UN. Several European countries condemned these attacks, including the UK, Germany, France and Italy (9); Ireland and Spain called for a suspension of the EU-Israel Agreement (10).
Let's keep pushing: For the ban of weapon exports to Israel, for the recognition of Palestine as a state, and for a permanent ceasefire!
We demand immediate action from the European Commission to reassess and end arms export licences to Israel, as well as the purchase of weapons and military equipment and technologies from Israel. The Commission must acknowledge its responsibility to uphold human rights, maintain regional stability, and uphold the integrity of the EU's Common Position on arms exports and imports. Failure to do so would be a blatant disregard for the fundamental values and commitments of the European Union.
This is the least we can do!
Why the Commission must act?
The EU has a Common Position on arms exports that guides member states in assessing whether to grant export licences for arms and military equipment.
The Common Position sets out criteria for assessing whether an export licence should be granted, including considerations related to respect for human rights in the recipient country, the risk of the weapons being used for internal repression or external aggression, and the risk of the weapons being diverted to unauthorised users.
The European Commission can’t continue closing their eyes on the dire crisis in Palestine and internationally recognised outrageous human rights violations committed by Israel. The Commission has to ensure strict adherence to EU laws and principles. In light of the ongoing atrocities inflicted upon the Palestinian population, there can be no room for delay. The Commission has to take concrete steps to end the export of weapons to Israel, demonstrating a firm commitment to promoting peace, justice, and the well-being of all affected by this ongoing conflict.
We have the power to end this suffering; we have the power to push for our governments to help end this killing. It’s time we use our rights and our democracy to show compassion and change the world for the better. Let’s use it together!
Help us pressure Ursula Von Der Leyen and the Commission to ban the export of weapons to Israel! Send an email now!
[2]: https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148141
[3]: https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/29/gaza-aid-trucks-death-toll-explainer
[4]: https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipcinfo-website/resources/resources-details/en/c/1156874/