What changed

B90190/2024

B90186/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

– having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas over 30,000 people have been killed and 70,000 injured in Gaza since the despicable Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023;

A. whereas after October 7, Israel tightened the blockade of the Gaza and prevent the entry of most food, water, medicine and other humanitarian supplies; Israel’s ongoing attacks and siege of the territory are wide;

B. whereas moreattacks thanon 100aid peopleworkers wereand killedaid andtrucks, hundredsas injuredwell inas Gazacivilian Cityinfrastructure have severely restricted humanitarian agencies’ ability; on 29 FebruaryFebruary, 2024,more wherethan aid100 trucksPalestinians attemptingwere tokilled deliverand foodhundreds andinjured lifesavingwhen suppliesIsraeli wereforces attackedopened byfire Israelinear Defencean Forces;aid convoy;

C. whereas on 26 January, the InternationalICJ Courtmade ofits Justiceinterim (ICJ)ruling askedordering Israel to refraintake fromall actspossible ofmeasures genocideto prevent genocide, and orderedto ittake immediate steps to allowensure the deliveryprovision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid to Palestinianscivilians in the Gaza Strip;Gaza;

D. whereas Israel’s right to self-defence must comply with international humanitarian law;

D. whereas at the end of February, one-quarter of the population was facing a high risk of starvation, one in six children under the age of two in northern Gaza suffers from acute malnutrition and wasting; whereas on March 6, South Africa requested the ICJ to urgently indicate further provisional measures in light of the new facts, particularly the situation of widespread starvation, to ensure the safety and security of 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza;

1. Reiterates its callCalls for an unconditional, immediate and permanent ceasefire toin addressGaza theStrip immediateand riskfor ofuninterrupted massaccess starvationto inhumanitarian Gaza;aid for all its inhabitants;

2. Stresses that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a grave violation of international humanitarian law; calls on Israel to cease all indiscriminate attacks against civilians resulting in collective punishment of the population; demands Israel immediately implement the provisional measures ordered by the binding ICJ ruling on 26 January 2024;

2. Recalls that the deliberate use of starvation by depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival including food, water and shelter, is a war crime under the Geneva conventions and the Rome statute;

3. Expresses deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza , including the risk of imminent famine and the spread of diseases, including about the confirmed deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration; is concerned that aid is being delivered in unsafe conditions; underlines the urgent need for rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access;

3. Recalls Israel's responsibility to fully comply with international law and urges the authorities to end the illegal blockade of Gaza and fully cooperate with UN and other humanitarian agencies, allow free, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access through all crossing points, open the port of Ashdod to humanitarian aid and allow a direct humanitarian corridor from Jordan;

4. Strongly condemns the attacks on aid trucks on 29 February 2024 by the Israeli Defence Forces; calls for an independent investigation into that attack;

4. Highlights that UNRWA plays an irreplaceable role in providing critical aid to ensure the day to day survival of 2.2 million civilians in Gaza; rejects the suspension of funding to UNRWA and calls on the EU and its Member States to grant UNRWA support with proper funding;

5. Emphasises the obligations of Israel under international humanitarian law, to allow, facilitate and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and of Hamas to immediately release all hostages;

5. Condemns that Israel has not taken any steps to comply with the ICJ ruling despite being investigated as a plausible perpetrator of genocide; calls on the EU and the MS to immediately comply with the legally binding orders issued by the court; including an immediate, comprehensive two-way arms embargo against Israel until it demonstrably aligns with its obligations; urges Member States to cease immediately all exports of arms and military technology to Israel, conforming to Council decision 2008/944/CFSP.

6. Calls for land corridors to be opened and remain open on a permanent basis to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza ; urges Egypt and Israel to fully cooperate with the international community to establish humanitarian corridors;

6. Warns Member States and the European Commission that the Genocide Convention includes an obligation on States to refrain from complicity in genocide.

7. Emphasises the crucial role of UNRWA; welcomes the release of a portion of EU's funding for the Agency; calls for the next tranches to be disbursed with the urgency required by the crisis and recalls the agreement reached by the budgetary authority for additional funding in 2024; reiterates its call to donor countries, which have suspended funding to reconsider their decision in light of the UN’s swift response on the allegations and UNRWA’s crucial role of delivering assistance to Gaza;

7. Calls for an impartial international investigation into the 29 February massacre;

8. Reiterates the EU’s strong support for the work of the ICJ and the International Court of Justice;

8. calls for the immediate suspension of the Association Agreement;

9. Stresses the importance of a two states solution, leading to two states living side by side in peace and security along the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission;

10. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, Knesset, Government of Israel, Palestinian Legislative Council and Palestinian Authority.