Pablo R. SuanzesBrussels Correspondent

Brussels Correspondent

Updated Monday, March 18, 2024-7:57 p.m.

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Josep Borrell

has been, from day one, the international figure who has spoken

loudest, clearest and most categorically

about what has been happening since October on both sides of the

Gaza Strip

.

He, like the socialist who spent time during his youth in a kibbutz, denounced with total force the savage massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, emphasizing again and again the right to

self-defense of Israel

and that we must remove the terrorist group from command in the Strip.

But he has also been the one who has denounced Israel's response

the most times, in the most forums and with language that almost no leader in Europe or North America dares to use

and ask for a ceasefire.

This Monday, in Brussels, the veteran Spanish politician, responsible for community diplomacy, did so once again, denouncing that Benjamin Netanyahu's Government

is using hunger as a weapon of war

and has converted "what before the war was the largest open-air prison in the world" in "the largest open-air cemetery. A cemetery for tens of thousands of people, and also a cemetery for many of the most important principles of humanitarian law", in the face of the passivity

and complacency

of the community international.

"I come from Washington and I dare say that Israel is causing a famine. 'Oh, how do you say that, what proof do you have?', they will say. What proof do I have?

Hundreds of trucks are waiting to enter

[Gaza], and It is absolutely imperative to make the crossings work effectively and open others. It is just a question of political will, Israel has to do it. It

is not a question of logistics

. It is not because the UN has not provided enough support. The trucks are stopped , people are dying while land crossings are closed. We send aid by parachute to a place that is an hour's drive from the nearest airport. This is unacceptable. Hunger is

used as a weapon of war

. Yes, hunger is used as a weapon of war. Let's say it," Borrell denounced in the Belgian capital.

First at an international conference on humanitarian aid and then upon his arrival at the meeting of the foreign ministers of the 27.

Two of the European figures most reluctant

to criticize Israel, in public or private,

have spoken about hunger in the last 48 hours .

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, did so from Egypt over the weekend.

And even German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

did so

, ensuring that "we cannot stand by and watch the Palestinians die of hunger."

Without directly accusing or holding Netanyahu responsible, but saying that the situation could not be tolerated.

Borrell's words, however, have been

immediately repudiated by the Israeli government

, which has demanded that he "stop attacking Israel and recognize our right to self-defense against the crimes of Hamas."

This Monday, Borrell put on the table the request from Spain and Ireland to

study whether Israel's actions would justify

the suspension of some of the parts of the association agreement with the EU.

There are other capitals that want to use it as an element of pressure, but the hard core that unwaveringly supports Tel Aviv, led by Berlin but also Budapest or Warsaw, does not even want to hear about the issue.

"Two Member States asked for the point of

view of the Association Agreement

to be analyzed and I have asked ministers to discuss this in a politically oriented debate. We are not talking about a complete suspension of the Association Agreement, this would be something that should propose the European Commission. We are talking about the political dimension based on respect for humanitarian law and humanitarian principles (Article 2 of the Association Agreement). It is up to the High Representative

to ask the Council members

what they think and see what the result will be "Borrell explained.

The answer has been clear: "it is not the appropriate way", in the words of the German Foreign Minister.

"The president of the European Commission is going to respond to that letter sent by the governments of Spain and Ireland. The services are working on it. I have proposed using the Association Council that we have with Israel to maintain a dialogue, but there has been no agreement around the table. But there has been an agreement to invite our colleague from Israel to

maintain a dialogue with him at the next

Foreign Affairs Council," explained the Spanish José Manuel Albares.

"Borrell has given us a detailed explanation about what parts correspond to the president of the Commission or what to do when there is guidance from her and what parts he himself can propose on the basis of the Common Security Policy. And we have had one more

debate in depth about the humanitarian position

. I see many countries approaching a position that Spain and a small group of countries were in December. It is good news but it is going too slowly," added the Spanish minister.

Sanctions

The ministers have reached an agreement this Monday to impose more sanctions.

To Russia for the death of Navalny, but also to Hamas for the attacks of October 7.

Likewise, and after overcoming enormous doubts, the EU has finally followed the example of the US and Canada.

United Kingdom and what some members had already done individually,

imposing sanctions on six settlers

for the violence instigated in the occupied territories, in the West Bank.

It is much less than expected, less than what others have done, but the process has been very complicated.

It was impossible in January and February and difficult now, since

there were capitals that preferred not to do it on the same day

that three Hamas officials were punished.

So that it doesn't seem like both things are exactly the same.