EU foreign policy chief slams US for giving another month to Israel in Gaza

ANKARA (AA) – Recalling the US warning to Israel to improve humanitarian situation in the besieged Gaza Strip, the EU foreign policy chief has slammed Washington for giving another month to Israel while “too many people” are being killed there.

“They gave one-month delay” during which “too many people” would be killed, Josep Borrell told reporters at the doorstep of the EU Council meeting in Brussels.

A recent letter from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza in the next month, or risk an American arms embargo.

Borrell further said the United Nations is being “attacked on all fronts by the Israeli government,” hoping that: “The council will strongly condemn the attacks of the Israeli forces against UNIFIL.”

Israel has injured UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) members in recent attacks, drawing international criticism as deliberate attacks on peacekeepers are against international law.

The United Nations is being attacked on all fronts by the Israeli government, UN chief Guterres is being considered “anti-Semitic”, UNRWA is being considered a “terrorist” organization, the EU official added.

Borrell earlier this week criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to withdraw UNIFIL troops.

UNIFIL was established in March 1978 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon and assist the Lebanese government in restoring authority in the area. Its mandate has been expanded over the years, particularly after the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah war, to monitor cease-fires and facilitate humanitarian aid.

Its mandate was last renewed unanimously by the UN Security Council in August.

UNRWA has been hindered from doing its job since January 2024, when Israel accused 12 of its thousands of employees in Gaza of being involved in the October 7- an allegation that has never been proven.

UNRWA was created by the UN General Assembly more than 70 years ago to assist Palestinians who were forcibly displaced from their land.

Israel dramatically escalated its massive bombing campaign across Lebanon against what it alleges are ‘Hezbollah targets’ since September 23, killing at least 1,437 people, injuring over 4,123 others, and displacing more than 1.34 million people.