Human Rights Watch said that the Israeli authorities are using hunger as a means of war against the Palestinians, and that citizens in Gaza are being subjected to deliberate starvation and collective punishment.

According to the organization, access to food, water, fuel, electricity and humanitarian aid in Gaza is “subject to severe and arbitrary restrictions.”

In a statement, the organization called on the European Union not to remain silent in the face of these atrocities, and to ensure that Tel Aviv stops “all its illegal practices.”

Addressing the European Union countries, the statement stated: “Unfortunately, you have not yet collectively recognized the war crimes committed by the Israeli authorities and other violations of international humanitarian law, nor have they condemned them, nor have they adopted appropriate measures.”

He added: “They clearly acknowledged and condemned the war crimes committed by the Israeli authorities and other international human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank before and after October 7, and demanded accountability.”

The statement demanded that the European Union ensure that Israel stops its "deliberate" obstruction of the distribution of vital humanitarian aid, including water, food, fuel and medicines, and stop all its illegal attacks against civilians, journalists and humanitarian workers, in addition to hospitals and schools, and end its violations against Palestinian detainees.

He also called for the suspension of arms transfers from European Union countries to Israel, and for a review of the association agreement between the European Union and Israel in order to suspend it completely or partially.

The statement called for increasing political and financial support for humanitarian actors, especially the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

He asked the European Union to impose a complete ban on trade with illegal settlements.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with American support, has been waging a war on Gaza that has resulted in more than 127,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing people amid massive destruction and deadly famine.

Tel Aviv continues this war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions to stop it immediately, and the orders of the International Court of Justice to end the invasion of the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, and to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip.

Source: Anadolu Agency