The European Parliament adopted by 470 votes to 56, with 56 abstentions, a resolution on the Israeli military operation against the humanitarian flotilla and the Gaza blockade.
The text adopted in plenary was tabled in the form of a joint resolution by the S&D, Greens/ALE, GUE/NGL, ALDE and EPP groups.
Parliament extends condemns the attack against the flotilla in international waters, which is a breach of international law. It calls for a prompt, international and impartial inquiry into this attack.
It calls on Israel to immediately end the blockade on Gaza, which has resulted in a humanitarian disaster and increasing radicalisation, which is becoming a source of insecurity for Israel and for the region as a whole. It also demands that all attacks against Israel cease immediately and warns that those who perpetrate them must face their full responsibility.
Parliament urges the HR/VP and EU Member States:
- to take steps to ensure the sustainable opening of all the crossing points to and from Gaza, including the port of Gaza, with adequate international end-use monitoring, to allow the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and commercial goods necessary for reconstruction and a self-supporting economy, as well as currency flows and free movement of people. to immediately take the initiative by submitting an EU plan to the Quartet with the aim of ending the blockade of Gaza and addressing Israeli security concerns by ensuring international monitoring of the crossings, including the reappraisal of the mandate of the EU Border Assistance Mission (EU-BAM), potentially with a maritime dimension, as well as its reactivation, and deploying an international naval force to monitor the Gaza seashore.
Parliament recalls that, even if the EU is ready to extend its assistance package to Palestinians, this commitment is not open-ended and insists that, while humanitarian aid must remain unconditional, the EU must play a political role which delivers tangible results towards the creation of a viable Palestinian state. It expresses its support for the proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority and underlines the need for their continuation with a view to the resumption of direct negotiation.
It is convinced that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive reshaping of EU policy towards the Middle East and that this reform should extend to all EU policies, including, among others, trade and development policies.
Parliament urges the Council to take the necessary steps to i) convene the EU-Israel Association Council and ii) the EU-Palestinian Authority Joint Committee in order to discuss the current situation.
Parliament calls for the immediate release of the Israeli sergeant Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas on Israeli soil in 2006, and who has been held incommunicado in Gaza ever since.
Lastly, Parliament notes that the recent events have considerably damaged relations between Turkey and Israel and the resolution encourages the Turkish Government to focus its diplomatic and political efforts on easing the plight of the Palestinian people and to contribute to the Middle East peace process.