Ursula von der Leyen

President of the European Commission

Antonio Costa

President of the European Council

Mme President,

Mr President,

These days we are witnessing a new escalation in the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza by the Israeli state, which has so far caused over 61,000 casualties, of whom more than 28,000 are women and girls.

Israel's atrocities in Gaza have led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Over 2 million Palestinians are facing starvation, while 160,000 tons of food remain trapped at the border due to the Israeli blockade, according to the UN. The “basic food quantity” announced by Israel that it will allow into the Gaza Strip for “diplomatic reasons” amounts to just a few trucks a day, when thousands of trucks are needed to meet even the most basic needs.

Israel's brutality has displaced more than 100,000 people in recent days, with the inhumane sealing of border crossings, and all public hospitals in northern Gaza are now out of service. At least 20 medical facilities in Gaza have been damaged or forced to partially or completely suspend operations in recent days due to the atrocities committed by the Israeli army. Over 120,000 people have been injured, including young children and the elderly, who have been left to fend for themselves, while the remaining buildings have been demolished.

The aim of these inhumane and criminal practices is to put into effect what Prime Minister Netanyahu – who has been convicted of genocide by the International Court of Justice – recently announced, namely for Israel to take control of the entire Gaza Strip. A similar escalation and brutality in plans to annex territories and displace Palestinians is also evident in the Occupied West Bank, undermining the possibility of creating an independent, viable Palestinian state in accordance with international treaties.

Despite the cheap “expression of concern about the humanitarian crisis” in the Gaza Strip, the “EU-Israel Association Agreement” remains in force, and the EU provides over €260 million in annual “investment” to the Israeli army and its arms industries, and Israel, which is committing genocide against the Palestinian people, is proclaimed an “ally and partner” of the EU and is rewarded with enhanced economic, political, and military cooperation with the EU and its member states.

The EU bears heavy responsibility for perpetuating the crimes committed by the occupying state of Israel, comparable to that of the US and its NATO allies.

We call on you to take immediate action so that:

- All the crossings for the flow of urgent humanitarian and material aid are opened, the EU funds allocated to the Palestinian people are drastically increased in proportion to the critical situation, and the work of UNRWA is supported and strengthened. All the necessary material and technological resources are made available for the reopening of hospitals in Gaza.

- The ongoing massacre of the Palestinian people by the occupying state of Israel is stopped immediately.

- The EU-Israel association agreement is canceled and all political, economic, and military cooperation with the occupying state of Israel is immediately halted .

- All EU member states recognize an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Sincerely,

Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos

Kostas Papadakis

MEPs of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)

30.05.2025