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Policy Watch

Gaza siege: Borrell urges Israel to respect international law

Michel Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, on Tuesday called on Israel to respect international law.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but some of its decisions are contrary to international law,” he noted.

In response to the Hamas movement’s attack on Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that electricity, food, water and fuel would not be allowed into the Strip. from Gaza.

“Israel has the right to defend itself, but it must do so in compliance with international law, humanitarian law and certain decisions are contrary to international law,” affirmed Mr. Borrell after a meeting of ministers of EU Foreign Affairs in Muscat (Oman).

The European official also argued that “certain actions and the United Nations has already said this – (such as) cutting off water, cutting off electricity, cutting off food to a mass of civilians is contrary to international law.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, for his part, drew attention to this situation, affirming that Israel was violating human rights by subjecting Gaza to a total embargo.

Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip has lasted since June 2007, but Israel tightened its grip further on Monday.

This article is originally published on trtfrancais.com