EGP Resolution adopted at the 38th EGP Congress, ONLINE, 2 December 2023

The European Greens Stand for a Lasting End to Violence in Israel and Palestine

The European Green family stands with the victims of the escalating violence in Israel and Gaza.

We condemn the horrific terrorist attacks committed by Hamas in the strongest way possible. We stand in undivided solidarity with the people of Israel and express our deepest sorrow to the victims and their families. Nothing can justify the indiscriminate violence and brutality of Hamas’s atrocities.

The civilian cost of the current conflict escalation in Israel and Gaza is unacceptable. We condemn all disproportionate responses according to international law and we express our deepest sorrow and full solidarity with all the innocent victims and their families. Civilians must never pay the price for terrorist crimes.

Israel has the right to defend itself, especially when faced with such brutal and unprecedented violence. The use of force must be in full adherence with international law and the principle of proportionality. Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure and the use of human shields and civilian infrastructure for military purposes by any party violate international law and international humanitarian law and must be stopped. Civilians must be protected.

The mounting loss of civilian life in Gaza and the severe humanitarian crisis are catastrophic. The siege of Gaza has seen severe restrictions on electricity, medical supplies, food, and water, as well as humanitarian access for essential aid and relief. We deplore the unbearable and tragic humanitarian consequences caused by the Israeli’s military’s order for over 1 million civilians to relocate in precarious conditions amid ongoing fighting.

We welcome the recent humanitarian pauses, which saw the release of numerous hostages and Palestinian prisoners and a significant increase in humanitarian aid and essential supplies to civilians in Gaza. This diplomatic effort must serve as the basis for a mutually agreed ceasefire and a perspective towards a sustainable long-term solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, notably the two-state solution.

All remaining hostages must be released immediately and without further conditions.

Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained, such as those in administrative detention without charge nor trial and in particular minors, must be immediately released.

We urge all conflict parties to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid and essential supplies to civilians in Gaza.

We support all initiatives to uphold accountability for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, notably through supporting the work of the International Criminal Court in investigating potential violations of the Rome Statute in the Palestinian territories and that of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel.

The horrific terrorist attacks of October 7th represented unspeakable violence and must be condemned. De-escalation and preventing the conflict’s expansion in the region are essential. All regional and international actors must refrain from fueling the conflict’s escalation. The Iranian regime must cease all support and funding for Hamas and other terrorist organisations in the region. This conflict must not spread and the international community, including the EU, has the responsibility to engage in diplomatic efforts towards these objectives.

The prospect of a two-state solution that can provide peace, security and democracy to both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples may be remote, but it is towards that horizon that we must continue to strive. One important part of the negotiations around the two-state solution is the recognition of the state of Palestine. The protracted occupation of the Palestinian territories, in Gaza and the West Bank, the record expansion of settlements, growing settler violence, demolitions, land confiscation and evictions, arbitrary detention, raids, and provocations, as well as political polarisation within Israel, all aggravated the conflict.

In the days after the attack, the European Union and its representatives, and many countries around the world, struggled to respond clearly and effectively to the deteriorating situation. The EU has since acted and spoken with greater unity. Although the EU has increased its humanitarian aid to affected civilians in Gaza, it still needs to act with more ambition and determination. The European Greens call on the EU to be at the centre of diplomatic efforts to end the violence and negotiate a lasting solution to this painful crisis.

We are experiencing a rise in anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim racism all over Europe. We strongly condemn all incidents against Jewish and Muslim communities and institutions. Every incident is an attack against our shared values, our democracy, and our pluralistic societies.

The European Greens therefore:

·       Stand in solidarity with all the innocent victims in Gaza and Israel.

·       Reiterate our condemnation of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks, convey our undivided solidarity with the people of Israel, and express our deepest sorrow to the victims and their families.

·       Consider the civilian cost of the current conflict escalation in Gaza and Israel unacceptable and mourn the increasing numbers of civilian victims in Gaza.

·       Acknowledge the right of Israel to protect its security, in line with and constrained by international law.

·       Demand that civilians are protected.

·       Demand accountability for those responsible for terrorist attacks and violations of international law.

·       Demand full and independent investigations into all potential violations of international law by any party.

·       Condemn all disproportionate responses according to international law.

·       Demand an independent investigation into the tragic loss of life at the Al-Ahli and the Al-Shifa hospitals and all similar civilian tragedies.

·       Demand that all parties to the conflict adhere to the protections for journalists, medical professionals, and humanitarian workers established in international law.

·       Recall that, at a time of growing global tensions in which the integrity of the international system is under threat, diplomacy and respect for international law are essential.

·       Support the Rome Statute and the work of the International Criminal Court and call on Member States to provide extra funds to support the investigation on the situation.

·       Call for a mutually agreed ceasefire and a perspective towards a sustainable long-term solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, notably the two-state solution.

·       Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

·       Demand the immediate release of all Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained, such as those in administrative detention without charge nor trial and in particular minors.

·       Demand that all conflict parties allow for the continuous flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the restoration of access to food, water, electricity, medical supplies, and other essentials.

·       Call for the end of the blockade of Gaza, while addressing the security concerns of its neighbouring countries.

·       Demand that all regional and international actors commit to ensuring de-escalation and refrain from fueling the conflict.

·       Will push for the EU to relaunch political negotiations towards the two-state solution, based on secure and mutually agreed borders on 1967 lines.

·       Consider that it is an important part of the negotiations around the two-state solution to recognise the state of Palestine.

·       Recall that lasting peace in the region will require negotiated outcomes that respect the right of both Israel and Palestine to exist as democratic, peaceful, and sovereign states, and the Israeli and Palestinian people to a home of their own, and that existing models can offer instruction and precedent in this regard.

·       Condemn in the strongest possible terms anti-Semitic incidents and any attacks against Jewish people and Jewish populations, their communities, organisations and places of worship, which have risen since the recent attacks. We will protect Jewish people and Jewish community life in Europe and elsewhere.

·       Condemn in the strongest possible terms anti-Muslim racist incidents and any attack against Arab and Muslim people and populations, their communities, organisations and places of worship, which have risen since the recent attacks. We will protect Muslim people and Muslim community life in Europe and elsewhere. The actions of a terrorist group can never be used to justify anti-Muslim racist actions or rhetoric.

·       Call on Israel to cease and reverse expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

·       Strongly condemn the instances of settler violence and use of force by the Israeli military in the West Bank, leading to killings, injuries, displacement, and increased movement restrictions and call for immediate action to stop them.

·       Underline that the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which increased under the current conservative and far-right Israeli government, is an obstacle to any peaceful solution.

·       Underline that the continued denial of Israel’s right to exist by certain Palestinian organisations and several of Israel’s neighbouring countries is an obstacle to any peaceful solution.

·       Calls on Israel to respect the rights of all their citizens, irrespective of their religion or ethnic group.

·       Demand full accountability through independent investigations into all potential violations of international law by all parties and call on the EU and its member states to support the work of the International Criminal Court.

·       Demand that the EU and its institutions, as well as the governments of European Green Party member countries, act in a coordinated and coherent manner with respect to this security and diplomatic crisis, as all others.

·       Call for the EU to increase its humanitarian aid to Gaza to address the suffering of civilians, acknowledging that any funds or material support must only be used for civilian objectives.

·       Demand that development cooperation funds by the EU and its member states towards projects in the Palestinian territories are not decreased and simultaneously continue to ensure that these funds only go towards organisations and projects that strive towards peaceful coexistence and that recognise Israel.

·       Support the Council of the European Union on Spain’s proposal to host an international Israel-Palestine peace conference within the next six months to find a definitive solution that allows for the coexistence of two states in peace and safety.

·       Recall the EU common position on arms exports (2008/944/CFSP) which establishes eight criteria for exporting arms outside the EU, and aims to prevent arms exports that contribute to aggression, forceful territorial claims, violation of international law and violation of human rights.

·       Demand from the EU and its member states to provide additional funding for political education about the conflict, anti-Semitism, and anti-Muslim racism together with a strengthened (youth) exchange between Europeans, Israelis, and Palestinians.

·       Acknowledge the long-term impact of conflict on civilians and urge the European community to support innocent victims to rebuild lives, homes, and livelihoods.

·       Differentiate between Hamas and other terrorist groups and the Palestinian people. We do not recognise these terrorist groups as the representatives of the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations. We insist that Palestinian civilians must not pay the price for Hamas terrorism.

·       Acknowledge and support the many voices both in Israel and Palestine standing up for peace and human rights.