The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, stated this Saturday that the Israeli order to expel more than a million people from northern Gaza in a single day was “totally impossible to implement.”
On Friday, Israel ordered the evacuation of “all civilians” from Gaza City to the south within 24 hours, ahead of a ground offensive against the Islamist movement Hamas, in retaliation for the deadliest attack in the history of Israel, exactly a week ago.
That deadline ended at 04:00 (Lisbon time).
“As a representative of the official position of the European Union, I say that the evacuation order is total, totally impossible to execute,” Borrell said at a press conference on the last day of his three-day visit to Beijing.
“Imagining that a million people can be displaced in 24 hours, in a situation like Gaza, can only result in a humanitarian crisis,” he added.
On Friday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Europe was “on the side of Israel,” which has the “right to defend itself” against the “atrocities committed by Hamas.” “
Josep Borrell also highlighted that Israel has obligations under international law.
“The position is clear,” Borrell said. “We defend Israel’s right to defend itself (…). But, like any right, it has a limit. And that limit is international law.”
Last Saturday, Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel with the launch of thousands of rockets and the incursion of armed militiamen by land, sea and air.
In response, Israel bombed several Hamas infrastructures in the Gaza Strip from the air and imposed a total siege on the territory, cutting off water, fuel and electricity supplies.
The attacks have already caused thousands of deaths and injuries in both territories.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel is “at war” with Hamas, in power in Gaza since 2007 and considered a terrorist organization by the United States, the EU and Israel, as well as by other countries.
The Gaza Strip, a small, poor enclave of 2.3 million people that has been under a land blockade for several years, is now under siege and Israel has cut off water, electricity and food supplies.
Josep Borrell affirmed that the only viable long-term strategy is the creation of an independent and internationally recognized Palestinian State.
Source: TSF
