He specifically referred to two amendments supported by a coalition of right and far-right MEPs who seek to cut funding to the United Nations Relief Agency in Gaza and to entities issuing educational material to children in Gaza.

The justifications outlined in the amendments claim that UNRWA aid workers are closely affiliated to Hamas while educational material disseminated to children in Gaza contains anti-semitic messages that encourage terrorism.

The first amendment he referred to echoes a recent bill issued by Israeli’s Knesset that bans UNRWA from operating in its territories – cutting a huge portion of essential aid provided to citizens in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

During the event, Lovin Malta asked Agius Saliba about a letter addressed to High Representative of the EU Josep Borell calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and signed by 48 MEPs including all of Labour’s delegates. We asked how this was received by both the Council and the EP.

“In Parliament, there is a total minority when it comes to pushing for a ceasefire and putting pressure on the Israeli government and army to ensure the conflict will end as soon as possible,” Agius Saliba explained.

The MEP went on to criticise Europe for not being courageous, saying it must send a strong message to Israel the same way it sent a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin against his war of aggression in Ukraine.

“To not stain our hands with the blood of innocent victims, the EU needs to be vociferous in the call for a total arms ban so we don’t have European member states that sell arms to those who are committing genocide.”

He further pointed out that Europe continues to import products from factories built by Israeli settlers on Palestinian land.

When asked why there is so much reluctance within the European Parliament to take a unified stance against the selling of arms to Israel, Agius Saliba admitted that a number of member states are close to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.

However, what bothered Agius Saliba more was the attempt by MEPs to reduce humanitarian aid to Gaza through amendments to the European Budget.

The European Parliament’s position on the budget will be re-negotiated and there will be another vote. At present, the EP hasn’t given the green light on its position on the budget. Therefore, there will be no basis for negotiations between the Parliament and the Council.

Agius Saliba said that if these amendments feature in the next resolution, he will vote against it again.

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Do you think these amendments should make it to the final draft of the budget?