FEMYSO Condemns European Complicity in Israel’s war crimes and calls for accountability and respect for International Law
The Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) expresses deep alarm at the growing complicity of European leaders in Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and human rights in Gaza.
While the International Court of Justice (ICJ)1 found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and the International Criminal Court (ICC)2 has issued an arrest warrant for top Israeli officials over alleged war crimes, some EU leaders have continued to engage with Israeli officials. Hungary’s decision to host war crimes suspect Benjamin Netanyahu – despite being legally obligated under article 127 of the Rome Statute to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC)3 for one full year following its withdrawal notification – is a grave breach of international norms.
Equally troubling is the recent visit of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas to Israel, describing Israel as a good partner4 despite the continuous international law violations. These actions send a harmful message, undermining the international legal system and underlining that political interests override states’ legal obligations regarding justice and accountability.
Since March 2, no humanitarian aid has entered Gaza. According to the UN5, all 25 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme have been shut down, and two-thirds of Gaza is now a no-go zone due to relentless Israeli bombardment. The breakdown of the ceasefire on March 18 has resulted in at least 1163 civilian deaths, including 322 children and over 142 000 people displaced in less than three weeks. Israeli officials have also declared plans to seize large areas of Gaza6, indicating an alarming shift towards annexation and permanent occupation. Yet, we have seen disappointingly weak statements by European leaders despite Europe’s commitment to human rights and the rule of law. Moreover, Israel is ramping up its plans to annex the West Bank. Recent statements by senior Israeli officials threatening Gaza-like devastation in Palestinian towns mark an alarming escalation and further entrenchment of the occupation. 7
FEMYSO President Hania Chalal stated that “These acts continue to reflect a persistent lack of accountability and failure to address the genocide in Gaza, in violation of the Geneva Conventions and in customary international law. FEMYSO strongly condemns ongoing war crimes, and the crime of genocide committed in Gaza, as well as the enabling silence and complicity of EU officials and leaders of EU Member States.”
We call on EU officials and member states to:
- Immediately and fully endorse and implement the ICC arrest warrants.
- Immediately implement the ICJ preliminary rulings issues on the 11th and 12th of January 2024.
- Uphold their obligations under international law, including by desisting from providing diplomatic support for those violating these obligations.
We also call on civil society organisations to speak up against complicity in genocide and to stand up for justice, accountability, and human dignity.
Justice and peace will never be achieved through partnerships with war criminals. The EU cannot continue economic partnerships and business as usual. Silence in the face of genocide is complicity.
1 Summary of the Order of 26 January 2024 | INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
2 Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel’s challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant | International Criminal Court
3 Israeli leader Netanyahu applauds Hungary’s ICC exit on Budapest visit | Reuters
4 Israel: remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the joint press conference with Minister for Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa’ar | EEAS
5 Israel says plenty of food in Gaza, UN says that’s ridiculous
6 Israel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Gaza – as it happened
7 Israel’s Smotrich vows escalation against Palestinians in West Bank, threatens Gaza-like fate
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Notes:
1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 32 Muslim youth and student organisations across 22 European countries, and is the leading voice for European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.
2. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org