Malta Urges For EU Sanctions Against ‘Violent Israeli Settlers’ In The West Bank
Malta is one of the four co-signatories of a letter calling for the EU to impose sanctions on ‘violent Israeli settlers’ in the West Bank as well as to open another border crossing for the facilitated inflow of humanitarian aid.
Belgium, Ireland, Spain, and Malta are calling for the EU to impose targeted travel bans and assets freezings on Israeli settlers in the Westbank who are “attacking and displacing Palestinian communities” to further avoid escalation in the area.
The letter is addressed to European Council President Charles Michel and the Times of Malta shared its contents.
While they reiterated a “strong condemnation of the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas” on 7th October, as well as Israel’s “right to defend itself”, they emphasised the gravity of the situation faced by Palestinians.
In the letter, the states are calling for three specific things. Firstly, a lasting humanitarian ceasefire that can lead to the end of hostilities.
Second, it calls for “effective measures” to protect innocent civilians. They described the number of casualties in Gaza as “unbearable” and pushed for “unhindered humanitarian aid” that must reach those in need “immediately” in both a sustained manner and in sufficient quantities.
To facilitate this, the countries are calling for the opening of the Kerem Shalom crossing as part of the infrastructure that must be restored and for UN agencies to receive support.
An aid crossing through the Kerem Shalom is currently being tested.
Under the new system, trucks would come to the Kerem Shalom crossing on the border between Israel, Gaza, and Egypt for the first time from Jordan, before entering Gaza from Rafah, about 3 km (1.86 miles) away.
Third, the letter recalled the urgent need for a political process based on implementing a two-state solution.
“We cannot go back to status quo before 7th October, with Hamas in control of Gaza and with the Palestinian Authority undermined by the lack of any serious political perspective.”
The authority deserves to be provided with proper financial and political support as the best way to “revitalise and reform” the Palestinian Authority so that it can take back control of Gaza. They argued that this is best for Israel’s safety too.
Within this point, the states brought up the sanctions as a means to avoid escalation in the West Bank.
The letter was concluded by bringing up a “rise of anti-semitic incidents across Europe” but failing to mention the Islamaphobic attacks that have occurred.
This letter was signed by Prime Minister Robert Abela.
War was waged by Israel in retaliation to the 7th October attacks which claimed the lives of around 1,200 people. Since then, missile attacks on Gaza have killed around 18,000 Palestinians.
Image: WHO.
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