The European Union condemned, on Wednesday, the statements made by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, in which he denounced aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and described starvation as morally justified.
In a statement, Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “The deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime.”
He continued: “Minister Smotrich’s assertion that it might be justified and moral to allow Israel to cause the death of 2 million civilians from hunger until the hostages are released is disgraceful.”
He added that it “once again shows his contempt for international law and the fundamental principles of humanity.”
Borrell called on the Israeli government to “unequivocally distance itself from Minister Smotrich’s words, as well as to ensure transparency regarding reported acts of torture in Sde Teiman Prison.”
According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich recently stated that it would be “justified and moral” to prevent aid from reaching Gaza until all the hostages taken in the October 7 attacks are released.
