European Council president ‘shocked’ at Israel’s Gaza attack
European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday that he was “shocked” at the situation in Gaza, which is the target of an expanded Israeli military assault.
“Shocked by the news from Gaza: starving civilians, hospitals hit again by strikes. The violence must stop,” Costa said.
“What’s happening in Gaza is a humanitarian tragedy. A whole people is being subjected to crushing, disproportionate military force. International law is systematically violated.”
Shocked by the daily news coming from Gaza: civilians starving, hospitals hit again by strikes. Violence must stop!
The Israeli government must lift the blockade now and ensure the safe, swift, and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid.
What’s happening in Gaza is a…
— António Costa (@eucopresident) May 17, 2025
Then stop enabling it, start listening to those who have been warning of this genocide for the past 19 months. Ban all weapon (related) shipments to Israel, impose sanctions, close the border to Israelis. Yet you'll happily host Israel for the Eurovision songadong. Israel is not in Europe, special genocide guest.
Without real action, Western warnings to Israel ‘can be safely ignored’
Mouin Rabbani, a political analyst, says Western governments and officials “have issued increasingly stern warnings to Israel” about its Gaza policies over the past days.
Despite that, Rabbani said it is understood “as long as Western responses are limited to statements, those making them can be safely ignored and Israel can continue to do as it pleases”.
That is “particularly so when such statements are accompanied by continued weapons deliveries, preferential trade agreements, political support, and other forms of cooperation”, Rabbani wrote on X.
During the past week or so multiple Western government and officials have issued increasingly stern warnings to Israel about its policies and conduct in the Gaza Strip.
It has always been understood, by all concerned, that as long as Western responses are limited to statements,…
— Mouin Rabbani (@MouinRabbani) May 17, 2025
