Borrell Accuses Israeli Minister of 'Incitement to War Crimes'

The head of foreign policy for the European Union threatened to impose sanctions on Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, over suspicions of incitement and 'provocation to war crimes.' Ben-Gvir, a far-right minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet, emphasized the need to reduce or cut aid and fuel supplies to Gaza instead of sending an Israeli team for ceasefire negotiations. On Sunday, August 12, Josep Borrell condemned the recent statements of two Israeli ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, regarding the cessation of support for aid to Gaza as a tactic to intensify pressure on the extremist group Hamas, and called on the Israeli government to disavow the remarks of these two ministers. Borrell wrote on social media: 'While the world is pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, Minister Ben-Gvir is calling for a reduction of fuel and aid to civilians—similar to the ominous statements of (Bezalel) Smotrich, the finance minister. This is an incitement to war crimes. Sanctions should be on the EU's agenda.' Borrell urged the Israeli government to show 'good faith' in negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deals. The extremist group Hamas, which launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory on October 6 last year, has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU, yet both have emphasized the need to increase aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza since the onset of the Gaza war. On the same day, Itamar Ben-Gvir stated in a radio interview in Israel that he opposes a ceasefire proposal in Gaza and instead believes that Hamas should be 'brought to its knees in two weeks' by cutting aid and halting fuel supplies to Gaza. Bezalel Smotrich also stated last week at a conference that his country has no choice but to provide aid to Gaza under the current international conditions, while starving two million residents of Gaza or withholding aid to intensify pressure on Hamas to release kidnapped Israeli citizens 'may be justified and ethical.' The finance minister later told Kan Israel that his statements were misinterpreted, asserting that Israel is obligated to permit humanitarian aid to Gaza because no one will allow the people of Gaza to starve. Europeans condemned the Israeli minister's comments about starving Gaza residents. Smotrich justified his stance in an interview with Kan, stating that humanitarian aid should be conditional on receiving a humanitarian concession, telling Hamas to release their hostages. According to the finance minister, while Israeli hostages are dying in Hamas tunnels, pouring aid into Gaza is 'unethical' and 'unjust.' Volker Turk, the UN human rights commissioner, condemned Smotrich's remarks and called for an investigation and punishment regarding them. Several European governments also condemned the finance minister's statements. Borrell's request for an investigation into sanctions against the extremist ministers of the Israeli government comes as the Biden administration has also recently expressed a clear stance against Smotrich's comments regarding the ceasefire. John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council of the U.S., accused Smotrich of misleading the Israeli public and stated that contrary to the minister's remarks, the proposed ceasefire agreement aligns with Israel's security interests, not as a means of surrendering Israel. Kirby also noted that Smotrich is willing to sacrifice the lives of Israeli hostages for his political and ideological positions. Smotrich, leader of the 'Religious Zionism' party, and Ben-Gvir, leader of the 'Jewish Power' movement, are part of a political coalition that would face collapse if they leave the cabinet. Israeli opposition leaders have emphasized that whenever ceasefire negotiations approach advanced stages, Benjamin Netanyahu prioritizes the positions of the two right-wing ministers for the survival of his government coalition. Families of Israeli hostages also stated in their protests on Saturday night that the government has abandoned the fate of the kidnapped citizens and is wary of the extremist ministers who threaten to topple the government.