EU Commission distances itself from genocide statement on Gaza
Brussels (dpa) – The European Commission under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen is not classifying Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip as a genocide, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
European Commission Vice-President Teresa Ribera used the term genocide in a speech in Paris on Thursday.
“The genocide in Gaza exposes Europe’s failure to act and speak with one voice even as protest spread across European cities and 14 United Nations Security Council members called for an immediate ceasefire,” she said in her speech at prestigious French university Sciences Po.
The Commission spokeswoman emphasised that Ribera was not speaking on behalf of the EU’s executive arm when making the remarks.
The Commission had no position on the question of genocide as it was up to the courts to decide, the spokeswoman said.
Israel rejects the accusation of genocide. According to the UN Convention, the term genocide refers to “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.” (5 September)
