Irish MEP disappointed as EU Gaza resolution 'stops short of genocide label'
James Cox
An EU resolution on Gaza is a "positive step" but "disappointing, particularly on stronger language in describing what is happening in Gaza as a genocide", according to an Irish MEP.
There was much debate in the European Parliament this week before the resolution passed with 305 votes in favour, 151 against, and 122 abstentions.
The resolution pledged to "combat famine" in Gaza, but left out stronger language on Israel's actions.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh said: "I welcome the fact that the Parliament passed a resolution on the atrocities in Gaza. Sadly some in the Parliament feel Israel has a right to defend itself by committing the atrocities we are seeing.
"Ultimately it passed, a couple of things fell through which I was really disappointed with, particularly on stronger language in describing what is happening in Gaza as a genocide. It falls short in that way... Ireland and a couple of countries are leading the way in bringing a humanitarian approach to what is happening in Gaza to the EU.
"Stronger wording and more action is needed."
'Man-made famine'
Ms Walsh said "this is a man-made famine", and added: "I wish that was reflected in the resolution, but we're one step closer to having a united voice on this in the Parliament.
"In committees we often say we need to see the data to understand issues, but there's more data coming out of what's happening in Gaza than you can imagine, we're seeing it before our own eyes.
"Numerous colleagues have told me the Irish people are being so strong on their stance on Gaza, bringing it to the fore, as an Irish representative I'm trying to support that."
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has been criticised for the EU's approach to Gaza, but Ms Walsh said she was pleasently surprised with the president's tougher stance on Israel in her State of the Union speech.
"Like many of my colleagues, I was surprised at the strength in language. The president laid out what needs to happen, it was very important that she recognised this is a man-made famine, and went on to acknowledge the inability to agree on action and the pain that is causing people. This was something we'd never heard from the president of the Commission, or many of the prime ministers in the EU 27. Sometimes we forgot Ireland is an outlier on this, in a positive way. Many of my colleagues in my own grouping were disappointed in the language from the president of the Commission, I certainly was not one of them.
"She had very clear lines on her proposals on sanctions on extremist ministers, I only wish she included the name of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal for partial suspension of trade on the EU-Israel association agreement... these proposals to go before the European Council are a hell of a lot further than I thought she would go.
"We need to continue to lobby the Commission to bring urgency on these proposals. Now prime ministers need to deal with this at the speed at which Palestinians and everyone in the Middle East deserves."
She said the role of MEPs, national and local politicians is now to work to further these proposals.
This is an unimaginable humanitarian crisis, and the genocide Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist ministers are creating is killing innocent people.
"To make it very clear to Irish people reading this, it's not just the Commission making the proposals happen. They will be put forward to the EU Council and we need to work across the 27 member states to make sure they agree across this so we can move forward.
"This needs to be actioned across all major capitals across the EU. We need pressure on it from MEPs, national representatives, local representatives, we need unity on a European level.
"The resolution was a promising step but there wasn't strong enough language in declaring a genocide in Gaza as there should have been. There is a lot of work we have to do in the European Parliament on this.
"This is an unimaginable humanitarian crisis, and the genocide Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist ministers are creating is killing innocent people."
She added: "Constitutents sometimes say we are too silent, so I constantly try to echo what is the Irish position on this.
"Following up after the State of the Union, with the backdrop of Israel's bomb in Doha, multiple examples of Israel breaking international law, president Donald Trump changing his language on Israel following the Qatar bomb attack, all of that creates further pressure.
"But listen, the time to act was two years ago, so urgency is needed, and that's where the pressure continues to come in."
