New Delhi: As European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen landed in Israel Friday, an old clip of her terming Russia’s attacks against civilian infrastructure and cutting off water and electricity to Ukrainian civilians as “acts of terror” has resurfaced. Some, including those within the European Parliament, have accused the EU chief of having contradictory stances on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The EU chief landed in Israel along with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to express solidarity with Israel. Israel appears to be preparing a ground offensive in Gaza in response to attacks from Palestinian militant group Hamas, having instructed over a million civilians to evacuate northern Gaza.
Later, she held a press conference alongside Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating, “Europe stands with Israel and Israel has the right to defend itself. In fact, it has the duty to defend its people”.
The EU chief termed the attacks by Hamas as acts of “terrorism” and “war” that have “nothing to do with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people”.
Meanwhile, a clip of von der Leyen from October 2022 resurfaced on social media in which she can be seen terming Russia’s attempts to cut off electricity and heating to civilians amid the Ukraine war as “acts of pure terror”.
“Yesterday, we saw again Russia’s targeted attacks against civilian infrastructure… These are war crimes. Targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure with the clear aim to cut off men, women, children from water, electricity and heating with the winter coming — these are acts of pure terror. And we have to call it as such,” she said in a speech at the European Parliament on 19 October 2022.
At the time, millions of households in Ukraine were left without electricity following Russian attacks on energy facilities in the country.
Earlier this week, Israel cut off food, water, power and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. On Thursday, Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X: “Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home.”
While the EU chief faces the heat for her stance on Israel, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accused the Israeli government of breaking international law by imposing a blockade of Gaza in response to the attack by Hamas.
Also read: Israel solution won’t be in scriptures or prophecies of Hamas & Netanyahu, but in realpolitik
‘Lost moral authority’
A day after the EU chief posted on X, “We stand with Israel,” Ernest Urtasun i Domènech, a Spanish politician, economist and Member of the European Parliament, stated at a press conference in Madrid Tuesday that the EU Commission President “never condemns the war crimes committed by Israel”.
Meanwhile, Hafsa Halawa, a political analyst, human rights advocate and development specialist, accused the EU chief of losing “moral authority” on the conflict.
“Ursula Von Der Leyen has lost moral authority in this conflict. She is taking Europe down a path where collectively the entire Union risks its standing in this region,” she said in a statement on X Saturday.
The United Nations has criticised Israeli air strikes on residential buildings and mosques across the Gaza Strip, adding that “sieges” were illegal under international law.
Other world leaders, such as Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, have strongly criticised Israel for its cessation of water, electricity supplies and aid to the Gaza Strip, calling it a breach of international law.
Also read: Weapon deliveries won’t be hit by ongoing war with Hamas, Israel assures India