At a press conference recently in Strasbourg, Barry Andrews, MEP for Dublin, has called on President von der Leyen to make a clear statement on the recently issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“While the world watches in horror, the Palestinian people are bearing the brunt of this devastation,” said MEP Andrews. “The principles of international justice are clear; we cannot pick and choose when to uphold international law and our response as Europeans must reflect this commitment. Ignoring ICC rulings threatens the very credibility of the EU and the international order. If we do not present a united front on this, it would be a monumental mistake.”
Andrews emphasised the EU’s inconsistent response to this ruling compared to its united support for the ICC’s actions in Ukraine, warning that such double standards undermine the global legal framework.
In addition, MEP Andrews called for concrete EU actions to address the ongoing conflict and human rights violations. While he welcomed the Irish Government’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine and progress on the Occupied Territories Bill, he urged a collective European approach, including targeted sanctions and a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
“Individual efforts are commendable, but they are not enough. With the new College of Commissioners starting today, the EU must stand firm against impunity and take practical steps to uphold the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,” he asserted.
“We need a coalition of determination—beyond symbolic gestures—to ensure this conflict ends swiftly and justice is served,” he concluded.
The conflict, which began on October 7th last year with the horrific assault by Hamas, has resulted in over 43,000 deaths and 102,000 injuries. In Gaza alone, 90% of the population has been displaced, while the West Bank has witnessed increased airstrikes, raids, and violence, causing mass arrests, civilian deaths, and destruction of infrastructure.
