More than 209 European diplomats call for urgent action to stop the war on the Gaza Strip

Sada News - In a significant development reflecting the European concern over the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, more than 209 former European diplomats, including 110 former ambassadors and senior officials from the European Union, as well as 99 former ambassadors from France, Germany, and Italy, and 25 high-ranking directors, sent an open letter to EU institutions, urging them to take urgent and tangible actions to pressure Israel to stop military operations and respect international law.

The diplomats addressed the nine proposed measures from the European Union that they compiled in their open letter dated July 28, in response to the illegal actions taken by the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank, expressing their concern over the Israeli government's plans to empty the city of Gaza and its suburbs of one million Palestinians by forcing them to relocate to concentrated areas in the south, in preparation for potential large-scale deportations to third countries, risking triggering a migration crisis. They referenced the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on the 22nd of this month, stating that a man-made famine is now present in these same areas of Gaza, where half a million people are facing hunger, deprivation, and death, and malnutrition now threatens the lives of 132,000 children under the age of five until June 2026. By the end of September 2025, it is estimated that 640,000 people (a third of the population) will face catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Unfortunately, more than 200 Gazan citizens, including over 60 children, have lost their lives due to malnutrition.

They added: Estimates indicate that since the letter dated July 28 alone, more than 2,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them women and children, and more than 12,000 people have been injured.

They pointed out that the continued Israeli government's prevention of UNRWA and 100 international NGOs from providing any aid since March 2 has exacerbated the inadequate humanitarian access to Gaza, obstructing the delivery operations of other experienced traditional suppliers, prioritizing the militarization of aid provided by the United Nations Population Fund and its mercenaries, in violation of all humanitarian principles of the United Nations, leading to the deaths or injuries of thousands of desperate and hungry Palestinians while seeking this assistance.

They noted that international journalists are being prevented from accessing Gaza, while more than 200 journalists and local media workers have been killed so far, including eleven in recent targeted attacks.

They addressed the approval of Israeli ministers for plans to build 3,400 units in the E1 area in Palestine, thus separating East Jerusalem from the West Bank, dividing the area into two parts, emphasizing that the openly stated goal is to sabotage the long-standing two-state solution, which is supported by the vast majority of UN member states and the European Union, and is the only viable way for both peoples to live in peace and security.

They added: Violent settlers continue their actions in the West Bank, leading, among other things, to the killing of Awda Hithalin, a well-known peaceful human rights activist in the West Bank.

They expressed their deep disappointment at the EU's failure to take any substantial actions in response to the deteriorating situation in Gaza, to pressure Israel to end its brutal war, resume vital humanitarian aid from major donors, and end its illegal occupation of both Gaza and the West Bank. They affirmed that if the EU does not take an effective stance, only the member states will act individually or within "groups of like-minded countries."

They added: It will not have the full power of collective action at the EU level, and the annex to this letter outlines the specific actions that EU member states are called upon to take.

They affirmed that the current conditions in Gaza and the West Bank are unprecedented, and the repeated and urgent call for action reflects their deep concern over the unjustified retaliation and horrific violations of humanitarian law and human rights law committed daily by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people.

They continued: It also reflects our sincere desire for the EU, to which we have dedicated our professional lives, to show true leadership that befits the vast majority of European citizens who feel deeply concerned about the current dire situation in Palestine, and is consistent with core European values and our credibility with southern countries. Among other things, inaction undermines efforts to rally support for the EU's position on the war in Ukraine.

The diplomats confirmed that, similar to the views expressed by many current EU staff members, the countries and institutions that claim to support human rights and respect international law must set an example through action - not just words.

Attached are the actions requested of EU member states to take: (These in addition to the nine actions taken by the EU as outlined in the open letter dated July 28, 2025):

- Suspend or revoke arms export licenses to Israel unilaterally under the national export control laws of member states, including dual-use equipment and technology.

- Stop funding jointly funded national projects that include Israeli entities or withdraw from joint research agreements with Israeli institutions and research bodies, concerning the Horizon Europe project, where there is reasonable evidence that such funding supports illegal acts under international law.

- Direct government universities and other bodies to cease cooperation with Israeli entities suspected of involvement in heinous crimes.

- Apply their own national sanctions regimes on human rights and anti-terrorism grounds, including visa bans and asset freezes.

- Introduce a ban on trade in goods and services with illegal settlements, pending a trade ban at the EU level, and based on applicable World Trade Organization provisions, noting that Slovenia has already banned the import of goods from illegal settlements earlier this month, while Ireland is also moving forward with relevant legislation.

- Exclude companies linked to illegal settlements from public procurement and government investments and sovereign wealth funds.

- Ban the docking of Israeli military ships and aircraft in ports or using its airspace, as well as banning any ship/aircraft transporting military equipment and munitions to Israel from stopping.

- Prosecute Israeli and Palestinian war criminals upon their entry into their territories, or even in absentia in some cases for member states that apply the principles of universal jurisdiction (Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, Sweden, etc.). All member states are, of course, obliged to support the International Criminal Court with arrest warrants and investigations.

- Prevent data centers and platforms located in Europe from receiving, storing, or processing data issued by the Israeli government or commercial sources related to the presence of the Israeli government and its activities in Gaza and elsewhere in the occupied territories.