RAMALLAH, August 27, 2025 (WAFA) - An open letter co-signed by 209 former EU and Member State ambassadors and senior officials expressed dismay that, in the four weeks following a previous letter sent on 28 July outlining nine proposed EU actions in response to the Israeli government’s unlawful actions in Gaza and the West Bank, no ceasefire has been agreed in Gaza.

The letter warned that, since the last letter, the Israeli government has begun implementing plans to empty Gaza City and its surroundings, forcing up to one million Palestinians into concentrated areas in the south in preparation for possible large-scale deportations to third countries, posing a serious risk of a migration crisis.

The letter added that the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) confirmed on 22 August that a man-made famine now exists in these areas of Gaza, with half a million people facing starvation, destitution, and death. It added that malnutrition threatens the lives of 132,000 children under five through June 2026, and by the end of September 2025, an estimated 640,000 people—about a third of the population—are expected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity.

It stated that, tragically, more than 200 Gazan citizens, including over 60 children, have already died from malnutrition-related causes.

“Estimates suggest that just since our letter of 28 July, more than 2,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, many of them women and children, with over 12,000 injured,” said the letter.

“Compounding the totally inadequate humanitarian access to Gaza, the Israeli government has continued to prevent UNRWA and 100 international NGOs from delivering any aid since 2 March, obstructed the deliveries of other traditional experienced suppliers whilst prioritizing the militarization of aid supplied by the GHF and its mercenaries, in violation of all UN Humanitarian principles, leading to thousands of desperate and hungry Palestinians being killed or injured whilst seeking this assistance.”

The letter noted that international journalists are denied access to Gaza, while more than 200 locally based journalists and media workers have been killed, including eleven in recent targeted attacks.

“Israeli Ministers have approved plans to build 3,400 housing units in the E1 area of Palestine, thereby cutting off East Jerusalem from the West Bank and dividing the territory in two, the openly declared aim being to sabotage the longstanding two-state solution which is backed by the vast majority of UN Member States and the EU and is the only viable way for the two peoples to live in peace and security.”

They added: “Violent settlers continue to run amok in the West Bank leading, inter alia, to the recent murder of Odeh Hathalin a well-known peaceful West Bank human rights campaigner.”

They expressed profound disappointment that, in response to the deteriorating situation in Gaza, no substantive measures have been taken by the EU to pressure Israel to end its brutal war, to resume vital humanitarian assistance by mainstream providers, and to dismantle its illegal occupation of both Gaza and the West Bank. “We underline that, if the EU fails to take an effective stand, only Member States individually or in ‘groups of like-minded countries’ will act. While this is welcome in itself, it will not have the full force of EU-wide collective action. The Annex to this letter outlines specific actions that EU Member States are called on to take.”

“Today’s circumstances in Gaza and the West Bank are unprecedented. Our reiterated and urgent call for action reflects our deep concern at the unjustified retribution and appalling violations of humanitarian and human rights law being committed by the Israeli government against the Palestinian people on a daily basis. It reflects our fervent wish for the EU, to which we dedicated our professional lives, to demonstrate real leadership, worthy of the overwhelming majority of European citizens whose profound disquiet over the current deplorable situation in Palestine is palpable, and consistent with core European values and our credibility with the Global South. Among other things, lack of action undermines efforts to harness support for the EU position on the war in Ukraine.”

“In closing, we underline that, analogous to the views expressed by many current EU staff members, States and Institutions claiming to support human rights and uphold international law must lead by example with action – not just with words.”

Actions that EU Member States are called on to take: (these are in addition to the nine EU actions stipulated in Open letter of 28 July 2025)

• Unilaterally suspending or revoking arms export licenses to Israel under Member States’ own national export control laws, including for dual-use equipment and technology;
• Stopping the funding of national co-financed projects involving Israeli entities or withdrawing from joint research agreements with Israeli institutions and research bodies, with respect to Horizon Europe, where there is plausible evidence that such funding supports actions illegal under international law;
• Directing public universities and other entities to cease collaboration with Israeli entities suspected of being involved in atrocity crimes;
• Enforcing their own national sanctions’ regimes on human rights grounds and counter-terrorism laws, including visa bans and asset freezes;
• Introducing prohibitions on trade in goods and services with illegal settlements, pending an EU-wide ban on trade, and on the basis of applicable WTO stipulations, noting that earlier this month Slovenia already banned the imports of goods originating from illegal settlements, while Ireland is also taking forward related legislation;
• Divesting from and excluding illegal settlement linked companies from public procurement, state investment and sovereign wealth funds;
• Banning port calls or use of airspace for Israeli military vessels and aircraft, as well as transit stops for any vessels / aircraft transporting military equipment and munitions to Israel;
• Prosecuting indicted Israeli and Palestinian war criminals if they enter their territory, or in some cases even in absentia for Member States that have universal jurisdiction provisions (Germany, Spain, Belgium, France, Sweden, ..…). All Member States are of course obliged to support the ICC with arrest warrants and investigations; and
• Prohibiting data centres and platforms based in Europe from receiving, storing or treating data originating from Israeli government or commercial sources relating to the Israeli government’s presence and activities in Gaza and elsewhere in the occupied territories.
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• T.R.