NU.nl regularly provides you with an overview of the developments in the war between Israel and Hamas. This time: in one day, 140 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks. Furthermore, the European Parliament wants sanctions against Israel.
At least 40 victims were killed when they visited an emergency aid point, reports the Palestinian Ministry of Health. That is under the control of Hamas, but the United Nations (UN) usually sees the figures as reasonably reliable.
The controversial Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) provides food and other emergency aid to people in Gaza. Distribution points of the organization have been the target of Israeli attacks for weeks. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, a total of almost four hundred Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,000 people injured while trying to collect emergency packages there.
Also on the Salahuddin road, the main highway of the Gaza Strip, fourteen Palestinians were killed while waiting for trucks with relief supplies. These were to be brought in by the United Nations (UN).
In a reaction, the IDF said that it had warned several times that there was fighting in that area. However, people allegedly came “in a threatening manner” near Israeli troops. Warning shots were then fired. The IDF would not be aware of any casualties.
Other victims in Gaza died on Wednesday in various Israeli air strikes. Among other things, the Maghazi refugee camp, in the center of the Gaza Strip, was hit. People have also died in the Zeitoun neighborhood, a large neighborhood in the northwest, and the Khan Younis tent camp in the south. According to the IDF, the attacks would have had to do with the “dismantling of military resources” of Hamas.
European Parliament wants sanctions against Israel
A large part of the European Parliament believes that the EU should take stronger action against Israel. Including imposing sanctions and stopping arms supplies. Several MEPs also want the EU-Israel association agreement to be suspended. The European Commission is currently investigating whether Israel is still complying with the conditions of that agreement.
Members of the Social Democrats, the liberal Renew faction, the Greens and the radical left faction accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza. The center-right EPP, the largest party in parliament, and the right-wing factions reacted fiercely to this. They do not want to deny the suffering of the Palestinians, but believe that Israel is now being falsely accused of this.
The sanctions will not be implemented for the time being, because all 27 member states must agree to this. That is not the case, says EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. There is also not enough support in the European Parliament for other measures. 399 of the 720 MEPs voted against.