EU Foreign Policy Chief slams Israel’s Ben-Gvir for war crimes incitement

Occupied Palestine (Quds News Network)- European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell slammed Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir for war crimes incitement after calling for cutting off fuel and aid to Gaza.

On Sunday, Ben-Gvir called any ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal a “grave mistake,” saying the only way to release Israeli prisoners is through “increasing military pressure.”

“We are crushing Hamas,” Ben-Gvir claimed in an interview with Radio 103 FM. “I listen not only to the opinions of officials in the security cabinet but also to the field commanders.”

“Are we now going to strengthen Hamas by attending the talks [in Cairo]? It’s a grave mistake by the prime minister.”

The extremist minister claimed that the only way to release Israeli prisoners is through “increasing military pressure.”

“If we cut off their fuel, within a week they would be on their knees. And if we stop the [aid] trucks, within two weeks they would be on their knees. So why are we going to do a deal, especially such an irresponsible deal?” he said.

“What nonsense, what a terrible mistake, a massive disaster. We can achieve total victory,” he added.

In a post on X on Monday overnight, Borrell wrote, “While the world pushes for a ceasefire in Gaza, Min. Ben-Gvir calls for cutting fuel & aid to civilians.”

He then likened Ben-Gvir’s comments to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s earlier comments suggesting that starving the entire population of Gaza might be “justified and moral” in order to release the Israeli prisoners, stating these statements are “an incitement to war crimes.”

Borrel also urged the Israeli occupation government to “unequivocally distance itself from these incitements… and engage in good faith in the negotiations.”

Ben-Gvir’s remarks came after US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators invited Israel and Hamas to a summit on 15 August to finalize an agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been accused of blocking a ceasefire and perpetuating the war, said he would send a negotiations team to the summit.

For about 10 months, the Israeli occupation has imposed a tight siege on the Gaza Strip, extremely limiting the flow of life-saving essential food and medical items.

In June, independent UN investigators said Israel was using starvation on the Palestinian population as a weapon of war. The hunger crisis has led to the death of dozens of people due to malnutrition, mostly children.

Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have issued several threats whenever a deal is close. The two far-right ministers have threatened to quit and collapse the governing coalition if Netanyahu agrees to a Gaza ceasefire proposal.