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‘17,000 orphans’: Borrell blasts Israel for 'catastrophe of unbearable dimensions’ in Gaza

Monday, 22 July 2024 10:57 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 22 July 2024 11:02 AM ]

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (Photo by Reuters)

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has denounced the relentless Israeli offensives against Palestinians in Gaza as “unacceptable”, emphasizing that the bloc cannot continue normally its relationship with the Tel Aviv regime in the wake of unfolding redevelopments.

Borrel stated that it is not possible to continue cooperation with Israel normally in light of the current situation.

“Israel can interpret history as it wishes, but respect for international law is binding,” he continued.

Borrell said, “What we see in Gaza is a humanitarian catastrophe, man-made, of unbearable dimensions; 17.000 orphans; almost 40.000 people being killed.”

“In order to rebuild Gaza [they] will need 10 years of taking rubble out.”

He added that, “Unhappily, the ceasefire that President [of the United States, Joe] Biden has been proposing, [has] not come. Humanitarian support is still stalled.”

Borrell made the remarks ahead of the last Foreign Affairs Council meeting before the summer break.

The veteran Spanish politician also voiced the EU support for implementation of The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that says Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful and should come to an end “as rapidly as possible.”

Borrel said the European Union would discuss how to implement it in Gaza.

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Regarding Israeli expansionism, Borrell said, “The big news is the Advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on Friday. They are stating clearly the position that the European Union has always supported; that the occupation of the West Bank - the Palestinian territories in the West Bank - is fully illegal, and it has to stop.”

Last week, the EU foreign policy chief said he is dismayed at the "unbearable" climbing human cost and wide-scale destruction caused by the ongoing US-Israeli genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

Borrell made the remarks at a joint press conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of EU-Jordan Association Council in Brussels.

"The constant rise of the number of civilian casualties…is unbearable and underlines the urgency of establishing a ceasefire and working to find a durable solution," Borrell said.

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