Image Credits - The Times of Israel
The European Union has issued a stern warning to Israel, stating that a failure to end the military offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, risks severely undermining ties between the bloc and Israel. The warning came from EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in a statement released on Wednesday.
Borrell called on Israel to refrain from further exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and reopen the crossing point of Rafah. He made it clear that should Israel continue its military operation in Rafah, it would inevitably put a heavy strain on the EU’s relationship with Israel.
Borrell’s statement highlighted the immense humanitarian toll of the offensive, saying it is further disrupting the distribution of humanitarian aid to Gaza and causing more internal displacement, exposure to famine, and human suffering for the territory’s two million Palestinian residents. The EU’s top diplomat also urged all parties to increase efforts to achieve an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all captives caught up in the escalating violence.
As the Israeli bombardment of Rafah enters its second week, concerns are mounting over potential violations of international law and disproportionate civilian casualties. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, accused Israel of deploying “humanitarian camouflage” through sanitized military jargon.
In a social media post, Albanese stated that Israel’s use of terms from international humanitarian law, such as “evacuation orders” and “safe zones,” creates the illusion that its military operations ensure the protection of civilians. However, she asserted that the reality is far from the truth, claiming this “humanitarian camouflage” has effectively turned Gaza into a place “without civilians,” where everything is destroyable and everyone is killable.
Israel has claimed it is targeting Palestinian militant groups firing rockets from Rafah, but reports indicate a growing number of civilian casualties, including women and children killed in their homes. The Israeli military operation has drawn widespread international condemnation, with the United States also urging restraint to protect civilian lives.
Humanitarian groups have painted an apocalyptic scene unfolding in Rafah, with tens of thousands displaced, critical infrastructure like hospitals being damaged, and food and water supplies running perilously low. The United Nations has warned that Gaza is on the brink of a permanent humanitarian crisis if the violence does not cease.
As the largest donor of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, the EU wields significant leverage over Israel through the threat of strained ties and potential sanctions. Whether Borrell’s warning prompts a shift in Israel’s military calculus remains to be seen as the devastating toll mounts in one of the world’s most densely populated territories.