Beijing, 13 Feb (Xinhua) -- Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on the United States on 12 February to reduce military aid to Israel and not just pay lip service to Israel's military action in the Gaza Strip as "excessive."
On July 18, 2022, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell chaired the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Brussels, Belgium. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zheng Huansong Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces launched an all-round land, sea and air strike on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, which was condemned by many parties, including the United Nations, Turkey, France and others.
Hit the nail on the head. Borrell and the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, at a press conference on the same day, referred to the recent criticism of the United States ** Joseph Biden for the "excessive" Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinians mourn the victims in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on 12 February. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Khalid Omar) Borrell said that if the United States believes that Israeli military action has resulted in too many civilian deaths, "maybe the United States should reduce the provision of ** to Israel" to "prevent so many people from dying in the fighting."
If the international community sees this as a case that has killed too many people, we should probably think about it, Borrell said.
Borrell also asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu where Israel intends to transfer the large number of civilians living in Rafah to the moon. ”
Palestinians inspect the ruins of Israeli airstrikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on February 12. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Yasser Qudi) In recent years, the United States has provided about $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel every year. Since the outbreak of a new round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October last year, the United States has repeatedly vigorously supported Israel in terms of military assistance and diplomacy. Biden recently proposed to Congress an additional $14 billion in aid to Israel.
On the same day, US spokesman Matthew Miller was asked at a press conference how the US responded to Borrell's remarks. Miller argued that reducing aid to Israel would not have a greater impact on Israel than the measures already taken by the United States. In addition, the US side does not consider the Israeli military operation against Rafah on 12 August to be the beginning of a full-scale ground offensive.
Israel has not responded to Borrell's remarks at the moment. Netanyahu claimed in an interview with the United States on the 11th that the Israeli army would provide a "safe passage" for civilians to evacuate before launching a ground operation against Rafah.
Condemnation from many sides. According to Palestinian reports, the Israeli army launched dozens of heavy strikes on Rafah on the 12th, targeting homes and mosques, causing serious casualties**.
People inspect damage in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on 12 February. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad) Rafah, located at the southern tip of the Gaza Strip on the border with Egypt, is currently home to more than 1 million people in the 55-square-kilometer city as people fleeing from the north and center of the Gaza Strip move south. Earlier this month, Netanyahu demanded that the Israeli military and security services submit to the wartime cabinet a plan for a ground operation in Rafah.
Stefana Dijaric de la Rivi, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, urged all parties concerned to fully abide by international law and fully protect the safety of civilians on the 12th.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has warned that a possible all-out Israeli attack on Rafah would be "terrifying" and could result in a large number of civilians**. He also called on countries that can exert influence on Israel to stop Israeli military operations. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed "concern" about the Israeli army's recent attack on Rafah.
Palestinians receive relief food in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah on 9 February. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Rizek Abduljawad) Turkey**Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of "crossing red lines" every day, while some Western countries "turned a blind eye" to this bloody conflict.
French Prime Minister Stefana Céjourne also condemned it, saying that any Israeli military action in Rafah was "unfair."
Hamas issued a statement condemning the Israeli army for committing "serious crimes" against Palestinian civilians, for which the United States is "fully responsible" because they have "given the green light" to the Israeli side and openly provided political support, funds and assistance to the Israeli side.
Abu Rudeina, spokesman for the Palestinian government, said in a statement that the United States should not continue to be bound by Israel's policies, and that the Middle East region is at a crossroads, and the continuation of the war in Gaza will lead to the spread of the crisis to other countries in the region. (Wang Yijun).