PL Deputy Leader and MEP Alex Agius Saliba has written to PN MEP Roberta Metsola in her role as President of the European Parliament to request her to take concrete action following the resurgence of violence in Palestine, the Labour Party said in a statement.
"Israel's abrupt decision to dishonour the ceasefire has led to more than 400 deaths, mostly civilians including children, and left scores of other civilians injured," the party noted.
Agius Saliba requested Metsola to push the EU and member states to take punitive measures which would hinder Israel's capabilities to carry out such war crimes.
The party said that Alex Agius Saliba has been vociferous about the need for the EU to take firm measures to stop the violence in Palestine for a long while. The protracted violence which commenced in October 2023 has led to the death of around 50,000 civilians. Countless others died from malnourishment, poor sanitation and other preventable diseases due to a total collapse in the basic infrastructure and health services available in the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire agreement reached just weeks ago gave a glimmer of hope that this violence has finally come to an end, but these hopes have now been shattered with Israel's complete disregard of the ceasefire agreement.
In his letter the Labour Deputy Leader insisted that the EU should honour its international obligations and rulings of the International Court of Justice and take action to prevent genocide and to ensure that those guilty of war crimes are held accountable. Agius Saliba requested that the EU - Israel Association agreement should be suspended due to the manifest human rights abuses during the conflict. He also insisted that the EU should impose sanctions and other measures aimed towards Israel's military, industrial and infrastructural capabilities.
These measures would limit Israel's capabilities to carry out such attacks and ensure that the EU would not be guilty of facilitating war crimes. Agius Saliba also asked Metsola to insist with the EU to support the plan presented by the Arab League for the reconstruction of Gaza and bring about political reforms which would ensure self-governance for the Palestinians.
The Labour Deputy Leader and MEP concluded by observing that the Palestinian people have endured decades of displacement, occupation and violence. "It is now the time to act to put an end to these acts of systematic oppression."