Europe’s credibility “at stake” over Gaza inaction, Doherty says

Fine Gael MEP Regina Doherty has said that Europe’s credibility is at stake over its pro-Israel stance.

As Israeli forces begin their assault on Gaza City, Doherty has written to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the EU to impose sanctions on Israel over its assault on Gaza.

Doherty said that the European Union project “has always prided itself on championing human rights and dignity across the globe, but those values cannot be left to words alone while famine takes hold in Gaza.”

“The death and destruction that we are seeing cannot continue, and Europe needs to take a much tougher stance in response,” Doherty said.

“Europe has never been shy about standing up for our values,” she wrote. “But values demand action. We give aid, yet that aid is not getting through. We call for a ceasefire, yet those calls fall on deaf ears. We say we defend the rule of law, yet Article 2 of the EU – Israel Association Agreement is being violated in front of our eyes. Children are starving. People are dying. If we mean what we say, then we must act – and that means sanctions now.”

Doherty criticised the Israeli government’s deliberate targeting of civilians, journalists, saying they are a  “collective punishment, genocidal in character, and a blatant breach of the Geneva Conventions.”

While condemning terrorism and calling for the release of hostages, Doherty said the bombardment of Gaza is “a living nightmare for civilians” and “nowhere near a proportionate response.”

“We cannot pick and choose when human rights matter. Europe must do what is right and help human beings in their hour of need,” the Dublin MEP said.

She concluded: “If we truly believe in peace, then we must do more than hope. The EU is a trading power and it is time to use that power to force an end to the nightmare in Gaza.”