Brussels – Gaza: Europe and the Arabs

Members of the European Parliament from the Green Party bloc criticized the Italian government in a statement issued in Brussels. The Italian government announced it would send Antonio Tajani, from the European People's Party, as an observer to the "Peace Council" established by President Trump, along with several other European governments that will send representatives.

According to the statement, a copy of which we received, this comes "amid reports indicating that the Trump administration is apparently planning to build a military base in Gaza to house military personnel who will be stationed there as part of the planned 'International Stabilization Force,' which is part of the 'Peace Council.'" The statement added, "We already have a multilateral body established to promote peace between nations." While the United Nations may not be perfect, the solution lies in strengthening it, not undermining it by joining a rival diplomatic project created by a US administration leading a new world order characterized by problematic governance and a lack of accountability.

“We reject Donald Trump’s ‘Peace Council.’ Peace will not be achieved through a partisan political project that ignores international law and marginalizes civil society. True peace requires justice, accountability, and inclusivity, not power politics,” said Ciaran Cough, co-chair of the European Green Party. “This flawed initiative distracts from the need for fundamental reforms to the UN and its working methods.”

“At this critical juncture, the EU faces a clear choice: unity or marginalization. A divided Europe is a weak Europe, and this is not the time to strengthen our collective power or to appear weak on the international stage. By joining the ‘Peace Council,’ even as observers, governments and institutions are legitimizing this vague initiative, which lacks a clear mandate under international law and any accountability.”

“The European People’s Party must decide whether it stands up for…” A strong and united Europe based on human rights and the rule of law, or temporary arrangements that weaken Europe's voice. “International law, the protection of civilians, and democratic oversight are not bargaining chips; they are the red lines that define Europe’s credibility and its ability to act as a principled global power,” said Vola Tsitsipas, co-chair of the European Green Party. In a related development, the UN Human Rights Office expressed concern about “ethnic cleansing by Israeli authorities in both Gaza and the West Bank, with increased attacks and forced transfers that appear aimed at the permanent displacement of Palestinians throughout the occupied territory,” according to the UN Daily News. The Office issued a report covering the period from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2025. The report stated that “intensified attacks, the systematic destruction of entire neighborhoods, and the denial of humanitarian assistance appear aimed at creating a permanent demographic shift in Gaza.” It added that this, coupled with forced transfers that appear aimed at permanent displacement, raises concerns about the risk of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank. In Gaza, the report details the ongoing killings and maiming. The report details the unprecedented number of civilian deaths during the period it covers at the hands of Israeli forces, the widespread famine, the destruction of remaining civilian infrastructure, and the imposition of increasingly incompatible living conditions for Palestinians in Gaza.

The report also states that the deadly attack tactics employed in Gaza raise serious concerns that Israeli forces deliberately targeted civilians and civilian objects, launching attacks knowing that the harm to civilians would be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage. It asserts that such actions constitute war crimes.

The report details the deaths of at least 463 Palestinians, including 157 children, due to severe starvation in the Gaza Strip. It notes that famine and malnutrition are a direct result of actions taken by the Israeli government, such as preventing the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The report states that starving the civilian population as a method of warfare is a war crime and may also constitute a crime against humanity if carried out as part of a systematic or widespread attack against the civilian population. Furthermore, it may constitute genocide if carried out with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, racial, ethnic, or religious group.

West Bank
In In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the report detailed the systematic and unlawful use of force by Israeli security forces, widespread arbitrary arrests, torture and ill-treatment of Palestinians in detention, and the extensive and unlawful demolition of Palestinian homes.

The report stated that these practices were used to systematically discriminate against, oppress, and control the Palestinian people. It also noted disturbing incidents of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by the Palestinian Authority.

During the reporting period, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups continued to hold Israeli and foreign hostages, whom they had seized on October 7, 2023, along with the bodies of those who had died or been killed in custody, as bargaining chips.

The UN report cited public testimonies from released hostages who spoke of sexual and gender-based violence, torture, beatings, prolonged underground detention, and denial of food, water, and sanitation.

The report documented the deaths of 79 Palestinians in Israeli custody during the reporting period and highlighted that Palestinians detained from Gaza remain particularly vulnerable to torture and ill-treatment.

Impunity
The UN Human Rights Office report details the widespread climate of impunity for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Israeli authorities in the occupied Palestinian territory.   

It highlights the lack of meaningful steps taken by the Israeli judicial system regarding accountability for such violations.

Among its recommendations, the report urges all states to cease the sale, transfer, and conversion of arms, ammunition, and other military equipment to Israel, which facilitate violations in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The report noted the ongoing efforts to advance the US-led “Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza,” and stated that the absence of any steps to ensure accountability for violations since October 7 represents a critical gap.

The UN report stated that “achieving justice for victims must lay the foundation for the reconstruction of Gaza” and called on states to ensure the immediate participation of Palestinians in governance structures to define and shape Gaza’s reconstruction.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, “Impunity is not an abstract concept; it leads to killing. Accountability is indispensable. It is a prerequisite for a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.”