Europe Turns Against Israel: New Moves to Stop the Rafah Operation After Recognizing the Palestinian State
Europe Turns Against Israel
According to the European network “Euronews,” amidst moves by Ireland and Spain, members of the European Union, to officially recognize the Palestinian state this Tuesday, European foreign ministers have approved the reactivation of the EU border mission in Rafah to stop the Israeli aggression on the border city.
Tension in Relations
According to the European network, the EU’s relationship with Israel reached a critical stage on Monday after the deadly Israeli attacks on the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, which health officials say resulted in 45 Palestinian deaths, struck refugee camps, and left “many” others trapped under burning rubble.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stated: “Following the recent events, European foreign ministers have agreed to reactivate the EU border mission in Rafah.”
He added: “I proposed to the ministers, and they gave me the political green light to reactivate our mission in Rafah, which has been dormant for years. This can play a crucial role in supporting passage in the Gaza Strip.”
Borrell’s statements come after Egypt refused to coordinate traffic with Israel at the Rafah crossing, following Israel’s occupation of the crossing on the Palestinian side, to avoid this coordination being seen as Egyptian recognition of Israeli control over Rafah. This caused a complete halt in traffic at the crossing, which is the only point connecting Gaza to the outside world.
Long-Term Consequences
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated: “The recent Israeli raids on Rafah will have long-term consequences.”
He added: “By making this choice, Israel is spreading hatred and deepening hatred among Palestinians, affecting their children and grandchildren. I would have preferred another decision.”
-
Did America refuse to provide weapons to Israel to prevent the invasion of Rafah?
-
Today marks the 162nd day of the Gaza war… Seaport activity, ceasefire proposal, and Rafah “gap”
The European network confirmed that these strikes came after the International Court of Justice, the highest court of the United Nations, demanded on Friday that Israel immediately stop its attack on Rafah.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also condemned the deadly attacks on Rafah over the weekend. He accused Israel of committing war crimes and genocide, which Israel denies.
Spain, Ireland, and Norway are preparing to formalize their recognition of the Palestinian state, a step seen as a significant achievement for Palestinians, granting them international legitimacy for their cause.
