ADDS MORE REMARKS FROM EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF, ADDS BACKGROUND
By Necva Tastan Sevinc and Nur Asena Erturk
ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) – EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Monday condemned recent Israeli airstrike on Jabalia, northern Gaza, which killed scores of people, amid growing calls for international intervention to halt Israel’s genocidal attack on Palestinians.
On Sunday, Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia, Gaza's largest refugee camp, killed at least 36 Palestinians, including 15 children, while injuring scores more and leaving numerous people missing.
"I strongly condemn the latest Israeli strike in Gaza’s Jabalia, with many civilian casualties," Borrell said on X.
He highlighted that terms like “ethnic cleansing” are "increasingly used to describe what is going on in North Gaza," underscoring the gravity of the humanitarian crisis and what he called "the daily reality of forced displacements," which he categorically stated "violate international law."
Pointing to the risk of famine in Gaza, Borrell warned that "the use of hunger as a weapon of war is also against international humanitarian law," citing a recent UN Integrated Food Security Phase Classification alert that signals a strong likelihood of famine spreading in North Gaza.
He stressed the need for immediate action, saying, "This manmade catastrophe must be averted."
Borrell appealed to Israel and its allies to accept responsibility, emphasizing that “urgent measures” are necessary "for an end of the suffering of the Palestinians and for the liberation of the hostages."
Citing the UN report warning of famine, he said: "Action by all parties is required within days, not weeks."
He added: "Israel, as occupying power, has the obligation to act by letting aid in.”
- EU 'appalled' by Israeli army strikes in Lebanon
Separately, Borrell renewed his call for an immediate cease-fire and respect for UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
“The EU is appalled by continued IDF (Israeli army) strikes in Lebanon,” he said, mentioning how killed dozens of people, including seven children in Almat in northern Beirut, away from Hezbollah areas.
“No one, including the IDF, can be indifferent to the high number of civilians killed,” he added.
On Sunday, at least 30 people, including seven children, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in the eastern town of Aalamat in the Jbeil district, and southern Lebanon, the Health Ministry said.
A massive Israeli air campaign in Lebanon has been ongoing since September against what it claims are Hezbollah targets, an escalation in year-long cross-border warfare since the start of the Gaza war.
More than 3,100 people have been killed and over 13,800 injured in Israeli attacks since October 2023, according to Lebanese health authorities.
Israel on Oct. 1 launched a ground assault into southern Lebanon.