Europe condemns Bezalel Smotrich's call to starve Gaza, block aid

The UK's Foreign Minister David Lammy has called on the Israeli government to condemn Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's calls to starve Gaza, calling it a clear violation of international law.

International law could not be more clear - the deliberate starvation of civilians is a war crime. There can be no justification for Minister Smotrich’s remarks and we expect the wider Israeli government to retract and condemn them.

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 7, 2024

Smotrich said it was justified and moral to block humanitarian aid to Gaza even if two million Gazans die of hunger.

“We can’t, in the current global reality, manage a war. Nobody will let us cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger, even though it might be justified and moral until our hostages are returned," he said at a conference on Monday.

There have been rumors that the new UK Labour government would block weapons sales to Israel if Israel were found to be violating international law.

Deliberate starvation of civilians is a 'war crime'

In addition to the UK, the EU and France have also condemned Bezalel Smotrich for suggesting that blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza is "justified and moral," the Guardian reported on Thursday.

Additionally, The EU condemned the deliberate starvation of civilians as a "war crime" and urged the Israeli government to distance itself from far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich’s statements.

France criticized Smotrich and emphasized Israel’s obligation under international law to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, given its control over the territory. The French Foreign Ministry stated, "France expresses deep astonishment at the disgraceful words of the Israeli Finance Minister."