After weeks of unprecedented attacks on Lebanon, resulting in more than a thousand deaths, Israel has now invaded the country. PAX condemns this Israeli aggression and calls on the Netherlands, the EU and the international community to exert maximum pressure for Israel to immediately withdraw and a ceasefire to be achieved.
There had been preparations by Israel for some time for an invasion of Lebanon. That should have been reason for Israel’s allies, including the Netherlands and the U.S., to make it clear that this was unacceptable. That didn’t happen. Weapons continue to be delivered. Diplomacy has failed, again.
In the preceding weeks, Israel already carried out all kinds of attacks on Lebanon, which have around one million people displaced. United Nations officials are warning that airstrikes in Lebanon are violating international humanitarian law by hitting civilian infrastructure and killing civilians. F-35 fighter jets, containing components from the Netherlands, are being deployed. Amongst others, the U.S. and the Netherlands have called for a cease-fire. This has been brushed aside by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Israel is now invading neighboring country Lebanon. It is an act of aggression, a violation of the UN Charter, and must be condemned in no uncertain terms.
This aggression could have been prevented. What is abundantly clear is that the ongoing war in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in a year and just about the entire area has been destroyed, is leading to further escalation elsewhere in the Middle East. It is the failure, once again, of the U.S. and some countries in the EU to refuse to put serious pressure on Israel to achieve de-escalation and a cease-fire. This takes place in the context of a plausible genocide currently being committed in Gaza.
This attitude must change. The Netherlands and the EU can and should call Israel to order, by, amongst others, imposing an arms embargo and ending any form of military cooperation with Israel. Also, the association agreement with Israel, which gives it all kinds of trade advantages, must be suspended. Sanctions are needed. Now is the time for action.