Borrell criticizes the US for arming Israel while lamenting the deaths in Gaza
The Biden administration has come under heavy fire from Josep Borrell for both bemoaning the rising number of deaths in Gaza and arming Israel to support its military campaign.
After Israeli soldiers shelled the town of Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday, the EU’s top diplomat for foreign affairs urged Washington to stop begging with Israel to stop killing civilians and to start “doing something” instead.
“How often have you heard the world’s most well-known diplomats and politicians declare that “too many people are dying”? In reference to President Biden’s recent statements, Borrell stated, “’This is (over) the top.’”
“Well, if you believe that too many people are being killed, maybe you should provide fewer arms in order to prevent so many people being killed.”
“It is a little bit contradictory to continue saying that there are too many people being killed, please take care of people, please don’t kill so many,” he continued. “Stop saying please and (start) doing something.”
The criticism was directed hours after an appeals court in the Netherlands ordered the government to stop shipping F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel due to concerns that, in light of the ICJ verdict, Dutch exports would be aiding in breaches of international law.
In recent months, the US administration has circumvented Congress to keep arming Israel while simultaneously urging moderation in that country’s conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of about 28,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas.
Sen. Democrats in the Senate have been pressuring the White House to notify Congress prior to any further arms shipments to Israel because they believe that the US may be involved in the destruction and humanitarian catastrophe that have befallen Gaza.
In response to such requests, President Biden issued an executive order last Thursday allowing the suspension of military assistance to nations whose governments flout international law. By “reinforcing respect for human rights, international humanitarian law, democratic governance, and the rule of law,” the memorandum seeks to “strengthen” US national security.
Due to a long-standing, bipartisan policy of assistance, it is estimated that Israel has received more military aid from the US than any other country since the 1950s.
“If the international community believes that this is a slaughter, that too many people are being killed, maybe they have to think about the provision of arms,” Borrell stated.
