May 10, 2025 – Josep Borrell, the former foreign policy chief of the European Union, has accused Israel of carrying out genocide in Gaza and condemned both the United States and Europe for their complicity in what he described as the most severe campaign of ethnic cleansing since World War II.
Speaking on Friday while accepting the Charles V European Award in southwest Spain, Borrell stated, “We’re facing the largest ethnic cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War in order to create a splendid holiday destination once all the millions of tonnes of rubble have been cleared from Gaza and the Palestinians have died or gone away.”
Borrell, who served as the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy from 2019 to 2024 and previously as president of the European Parliament, sharply criticized not only Israel but also the international actors enabling its actions.
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“Three times more explosive power has been dropped on Gaza than was used in the Hiroshima bomb,” Borrell said, according to The Guardian. “And for months now, nothing has been getting into Gaza. Nothing: no water, no food, no electricity, no fuel, no medical services. That’s what Netanyahu’s ministers have said, and it’s what they’ve done.”
Borrell accused Israel of systematically violating the laws of war and using starvation as a “weapon of war.” He also stated that the rhetoric of Israeli leaders amounted to “clear declarations of genocidal intent.” He further remarked, “Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide.”
However, Borrell did not stop at condemning Israel. He also directed his criticism at the Western powers supporting Israel’s actions. In remarks reported by Anadolu Agency, he said bluntly, “Half of the bombs that are falling on Gaza are supplied by the Americans.” This, he emphasized, made it impossible for Washington to claim neutrality or distance itself from responsibility.
Borrell also expressed frustration with the European Union’s response to the situation. “Europe has the capacity and the means not only to protest against what is going on but also to influence [Israel’s] conduct. But it is not doing so,” he said. “If we really believe that too many people are dying, then the natural response would be to supply fewer weapons and to use the lever of the association agreement to demand that international humanitarian law is respected.”
His remarks, made in front of Spanish King Felipe VI and top EU officials, come as international pressure continues to mount over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the silence – or support – of its key allies. Borrell’s intervention is one of the strongest statements by any former Western official since the conflict began.
As of May 2025, at least 52,787 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. This figure includes confirmed deaths but does not account for the thousands believed to be buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings. Additionally, over 119,300 people have been injured, and humanitarian agencies warn that the true toll, including those lost to starvation, disease, and displacement, could be significantly higher.
This article is originally published on: newarab
