On the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

B90190/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza and the attacks on humanitarian aid deliveries

(2024/2616(RSP))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to Rule 144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A.whereas over 30,000 people have been killed and 70,000 injured in Gaza since the despicable Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023;

B.whereas more than 100 people were killed and hundreds injured in Gaza City on 29 February 2024, where aid trucks attempting to deliver food and lifesaving supplies were attacked by Israeli Defence Forces;

C.whereas on 26 January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) asked Israel to refrain from acts of genocide and ordered it to allow the delivery of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip;

D.whereas Israel’s right to self-defence must comply with international humanitarian law;

1.Reiterates its call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to address the immediate risk of mass starvation in Gaza;

2.Stresses that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a grave violation of international humanitarian law; calls on Israel to cease all indiscriminate attacks against civilians resulting in collective punishment of the population; demands Israel immediately implement the provisional measures ordered by the binding ICJ ruling on 26 January 2024;

3.Expresses deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza , including the risk of imminent famine and the spread of diseases, including about the confirmed deaths of children due to malnutrition and dehydration; is concerned that aid is being delivered in unsafe conditions; underlines the urgent need for rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access;

4.Strongly condemns the attacks on aid trucks on 29 February 2024 by the Israeli Defence Forces; calls for an independent investigation into that attack;

5.Emphasises the obligations of Israel under international humanitarian law, to allow, facilitate and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza and of Hamas to immediately release all hostages;

6.Calls for land corridors to be opened and remain open on a permanent basis to provide humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza ; urges Egypt and Israel to fully cooperate with the international community to establish humanitarian corridors;

7.Emphasises the crucial role of UNRWA; welcomes the release of a portion of EU's funding for the Agency; calls for the next tranches to be disbursed with the urgency required by the crisis and recalls the agreement reached by the budgetary authority for additional funding in 2024; reiterates its call to donor countries, which have suspended funding to reconsider their decision in light of the UN’s swift response on the allegations and UNRWA’s crucial role of delivering assistance to Gaza;

8.Reiterates the EU’s strong support for the work of the ICJ and the International Court of Justice;

9.Stresses the importance of a two states solution, leading to two states living side by side in peace and security along the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states;

10.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, Commission, Knesset, Government of Israel, Palestinian Legislative Council and Palestinian Authority.