One month after the deadly attacks – more than 1,400 dead, mostly civilians – carried out by Hamas in Israel and the response launched by Israeli forces, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to worsen. Hamas claimed that the milestone of 10,000 deaths – including more than 4,000 children – had been reached.
Faced with this dramatic situation, the Belgian environmentalist party (Ecolo) believes that it is now time to give a chance to a just and lasting peace which will involve sanctions against violations of international law. The co-president of Ecolo Jean-Marc Nollet asks the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hadja Lahbib, to act quickly by taking the necessary measures. The Greens have concretely formulated a certain number of recommendations in six points:
- The ban on the sale in Belgium of products from the colonies
- The ban on entry into Belgian territory of settlers and military officials guilty of war crimes
- The immediate summons of the Israeli ambassador to express our anger and demand a ceasefire and an end to the abuses
- Freezing the assets of Israelis involved in war crimes
- The suspension of the association agreements between the European Union and Israel
- Recognition of the Palestinian state, in accordance with the government agreement
“In the same way that we must cut off funding for Hamas terrorists, we must also cut off funding for fanatical settlers. We must give peace a chance, and not just wish for it,” argues Ecolo co-president Rajae Maouane.
“There will never be a hierarchy of suffering between Israelis and Palestinians. Ecolo is and will remain opposed to all forms of extremism, whether anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism. The ceasefire is more necessary than ever. And the hostages must all be released,” recalls Ecolo co-president Jean-Marc Nollet.
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