There is now a growing revolt even in the European Commission over the fact that these nations have lacked a vigorous response to the humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip. Some 211 of the employees of EU institutions and agencies have signed a letter expressing deep concerns regarding this lack of response. The letter was apparently delivered on Friday, May 24, to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and EU Council President Charles Michel according to The Guardian, which saw the document exclusively.
The letter warned that the EU’s “continued apathy to the plight of Palestinians” risks legitimizing a world order where the use of force, rather than adherence to a rules-based system, dictates state security, territorial integrity and political independence. This contradicts the Union’s fundamental values and its mission to promote peace, the staff members said in the letter.
The signers further wrote: “It was precisely to avert such a grim world order that our grandparents, witnesses of the horrors of World War II, created Europe. To stand idly by in the face of such an erosion of the international rule of law would mean failing the European project as envisaged by them. This cannot happen in our name.”
The letter urges the EU to officially demand an immediate and lasting ceasefire, advocating for the release of all hostages, and halting EU member states’ arms exports to Israel, whether directly and indirectly.