Gaza Conflict Shakes European Institutions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Friday (DPA)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Friday (DPA)
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Gaza Conflict Shakes European Institutions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Friday (DPA)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen listens to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on Friday (DPA)

The Gaza conflict has the potential to worsen the crisis within European institutions due to significant differences in positions on Israel's actions, a lack of coordination, and conflicting statements by senior officials.

These divisions revolve around Israel’s alleged non-compliance with rules of war and violations of international humanitarian law, particularly in targeting civilians and disrupting essential services.

A high-level European official told Asharq Al-Awsat that statements made by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Israel on Friday evening were as close as they could get to “grandstanding... and irresponsible.”

Von der Leyen, who visited Israel with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, gave her statements after meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

“It is not Israel's right to defend itself alone, but it is its duty to protect its citizens and defend them,” said Von der Leyen.

She refrained from criticizing the warning issued by the Israeli government to half of Gaza’s population, instructing them to evacuate their homes within 24 hours, and she did not call for the opening of a secure crossing to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged population under bombardment.

Informed diplomatic sources have verified that Von der Leyen’s silence regarding the swiftly evolving events in Gaza and her statements during her Israel visit have caused tension within the European Commission and other European institutions.

These organizations, while supporting Israel's right to self-defense, have stressed the importance of adhering to international law and the laws of war.

The European Commissioner for Crisis Management in the Von der Leyen Commission, Janez Lenarcic, had posted on his social media accounts that the Gaza blockade violates international law, following similar statements made by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, last Tuesday.

While European officials expressed surprise at Von der Leyen’s stance, they pointed out that even US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had recently emphasized the importance of Israel's response adhering to the principle of “proportionality.”

Furthermore, Von der Leyen’s position contradicts statements from European Union foreign ministers who called for respect for international humanitarian law, ensuring the delivery of water, food, and electricity to Gaza, and facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also called for the protection of civilian populations and the provision of essential services during her visit to Israel on Friday.

Sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat noted that Von der Leyen’s stance on the blockade imposed on Gaza and the indiscriminate bombing it faces contradicts her previous position when the Russian army besieged the city of Mariupol in Ukraine.

This inconsistency is seen as detrimental to Europe's role in the region and as an overstep of her authority in foreign policy, which falls under the responsibility of Borrell.



7.0 Quake Causes Slight Damage in Tonga and Brief Tsunami Evacuations

7.0 Quake Causes Slight Damage in Tonga and Brief Tsunami Evacuations
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7.0 Quake Causes Slight Damage in Tonga and Brief Tsunami Evacuations

7.0 Quake Causes Slight Damage in Tonga and Brief Tsunami Evacuations

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit near Tonga early Monday morning, causing slight damage and brief evacuations before the threat of a tsunami hitting the Pacific island country passed.
Tsunami sirens could be heard after the 1:18 a.m. quake urging residents to move inland in a live video streamed by the Tonga Broadcasting Commission. People in the capital, Nuku’alofa, were seen moving inland or to higher ground before officials gave the all-clear for residents to return home.
Tongans posting on social media reported being able to place calls to most islands in the archipelago. Taekwondo athlete Pita Taufatofua posted to Facebook that items fell from shelves and tables and pictures fell from the walls during the shaking, The Associated Press reported.
“Was hard to stand up,” he wrote. “Never felt an earthquake go for that long.”
The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of 29 kilometers (18 miles) and was centered about 100 kilometers (62 miles) northeast of the main island. Hours later, a second 6.1 magnitude quake hit in the same area.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a notice after the first quake saying hazardous waves were possible but the threat passed with only minor sea changes detected. A warning was also cancelled hours later by the country's disaster management office.
There were no reported casualties or structural damage, said Mafua Maka, the agency's director, speaking to Radio New Zealand a few hours after the quake. Further assessment would be made in daylight, local news outlets said.
Tonga is a country in Polynesia made up of 171 islands with just over 100,000 people, most of whom live on the main island of Tongatapu. It is 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) northeast of New Zealand and situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic region of earthquakes and volcanoes.