Above photo: Getty Images.
For ‘Incitement To War Crimes’.
Josep Borrell called Smotrich’s comments on starving two million Gazans by withholding aid “sinister.”
EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell said on 11 August that the bloc must consider imposing sanctions against Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for “incitement to war crimes.”
Borrell urged the Israeli government to clearly dissociate itself from individuals who incite war crimes and to work seriously towards a ceasefire deal.
While the World pushes for a ceasefire in #Gaza, Min. Ben Gvir calls for cutting fuel & aid to civilians.
Like Min. Smotrich sinister statements, this is an incitement to war crimes. Sanctions must be on our EU agenda.
I support UN @Volker_Turk in his strong condamnations. 1/2
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 11, 2024
The high-ranking EU official also denounced Ben Gvir for urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt all humanitarian aid and fuel to the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing genocide.
Finance Minister Smotrich’s comments about starving two million Gazans by withholding aid in exchange for Israeli captives as “sinister,” in stark contrast to the Israeli minister’s assertion that the approach is “justified and moral.”
UN human rights chief Volker Turk also condemned statements made by the finance minister and should be investigated criminally.
In response, during an interview with Israeli news outlet Kan, Smotrich suggested that his remarks were misunderstood, reaffirming that “morally, we must condition humanitarian aid and tell Hamas, the Gazans, and the world that we allow aid in under the condition that they return our hostages.”
On 5 August, Smotrich argued for the use of starvation over any prisoner exchange and ceasefire negotiations. He also restated his opposition to releasing Palestinians in Israeli prisons in exchange for the captives in Gaza and his support for Israel resettling the strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously stated that resettling Gaza is unrealistic, angering his far-right allies.
Smotrich and Israeli Defense Minister Itamar Ben Gvir have been at the center of controversy since their rise to power after the November 2022 elections in Israel, when their Religious Zionist Party joined Netanyahu’s ruling coalition.
Smotrich has also previously called for the destruction, ‘ethnic cleansing,’ and annexation of Gaza.