Targeting critical life-saving infrastructure constitutes war crime, says bloc's foreign policy chief, urging parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid such attacks
The EU foreign policy chief on Monday said that he is "gravely concerned" over the continuing destruction of key civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including a water treatment plant in Rafah.
"The ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is creating life-threatening conditions for an already severely weakened civilian population that continues to be subject to starvation and repeated displacement into overcrowded tent camps for the tenth consecutive month, with no end in sight and nowhere to go," Josep Borrell said in a statement.
Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in the blockaded enclave since an Oct. 7, 2023 incursion by Hamas. It has leveled most of the territory and left most civilians hungry and homeless.
Borrell voiced concern about the collapse of sanitation, solid waste management, and health systems, causing the spread of diseases, including polio and skin and respiratory infections, in particular among children.
"We recall that targeting critical life-saving infrastructure constitutes a war crime and urge all parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians, humanitarian workers, and critical civilian infrastructure," he said. "We reiterate the urgency of full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid at the necessary scale for Palestinians."
He underlined the importance of respecting and implementing the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Israel to ensure aid gets into Gaza and to withdraw forces from the city of Rafah, southern Gaza.
Violations of international humanitarian law need to be "thoroughly and independently" investigated and accountability ensured, he said.
He also called on Tel Aviv to desist from actions that worsen the living conditions of the civilian population in Gaza and to comply with its obligations under international law.
"An immediate ceasefire is urgently needed to end the plight of civilians in Gaza, including Israeli hostages," the foreign policy chief said.
