We see, hear and read. We cannot ignore Gaza
1. In Gaza, Israel is committing a genocide. I am not (only) I who say it, are the facts and the special rapporteur of the United Nations for the occupied Palestinian territories. Since October 2023, the world has a climb of violence in the Gaza Strip, the scene of one of the most serious humanitarian crises of this 21st century.
The crime of genocide is defined as the practice of acts with the intention of all or partially destroying a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. It does not matter the environment, if with guns hungry, the intention matters.
16 months ago, the International Court of Justice recognized the risk of genocide and requested urgent measures to lock it, also stating that the occupation of territories by Israel is illegal, a form of aggression, racial segregation, apartheid. Also amnesty International and Human Rights Watch warns of the systematic violation of humanitarian law.
I returned from Israel and the occupied territories of Palestine recently, in the context of a mission of the European Parliament, and since then the horror – which seemed impossible to increase – has not stopped growing.
Gaza is today the most hungry place in the world. Again, it is not me who says it, they are the United Nations. Gaza is the site « 100% of the population risks extreme hunger, » said last week Jens Laerke, United Nations spokesman for the coordination of humanitarian affairs.
Almost 60,000 people died in Gaza, 16,000 of which children.
You have to act!
2. These days, several Member States requested the suspension of the UE-Israel agreement, taking into account the disrespect for human rights and democratic principles, as established in article 2 of the agreement. Position that should have been taken for a long time.
Portugal was well joined the group of countries that supported this initiative. The total suspension of the agreement will be difficult as it requires unanimity. However, the violation of Article 2 implies a moral and coherence obligation to suspend commercial provisions and Israel’s participation in community projects, such as the Horizonte Europa Investigation and Innovation Program.
It is imperative that Portugal recognizes the state of Palestine and the Law of Palestinians to self -determination, as they did in 2024, Spain, Norway, Ireland and Slovenia.
«We see, hear and read»: Every image, each account calls on our action. The omission, in the face of the clarity of the facts, is a form of complicity.
Genocide does not start with bombs, but with dehumanization. Ends – if you finish – with the mobilization of all. It is not enough to regret. It is necessary to denounce, act, press governments, support humanitarian organizations and amplify Palestinian voices. As Sophia said, « we can’t ignore »
