Leaders of the EU countries and its institutions were quick to denounce the alleged Israeli airstrike against a hospital in Gaza City during and after the European Council’s emergency meeting on the conflict on Tuesday, October 17th, despite increasing evidence suggesting the blast was caused by a misfired rocket from Islamic Jihad, another group fighting Israel from Gaza.
The Council’s emergency meeting ended by reiterating the member states’ joint position on the Israel-Palestine conflict, published on Sunday, October 15th. In this statement, EU leaders affirmed Israel’s right to self-defense but stressed that it must be conducted within the confines of international humanitarian law. Furthermore, the Council again endorsed the EU’s commitment to the two-state solution to the crisis.
EU leaders also discussed continued diplomatic efforts with Arab countries, especially Jordan and Egypt, to prevent regional escalation and coordinate humanitarian responses. According to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was also present at the Council meeting and later at the press conference, Arab leaders specifically asked the EU to continue funding Palestinians and welcomed the news that the EU is tripling its financial aid to Gaza.
“We’re also establishing an air bridge to Egypt in order to be in a position to quickly deliver aid across the border,” the Commission chief said, adding that EU diplomats are in Cairo, trying to persuade the Egyptian government to open the humanitarian corridor to Gaza.
But the main question of the night was the EU’s response to the alleged Israeli airstrike against the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, in which up to 500 civilians have supposedly died, according to the Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry.
While dozens of publications were quick to take Hamas’ communication at face value, pointing the finger at Israel, Tel-Aviv later released footage to show the missile, which apparently malfunctioned and hit the hospital, was fired from inside Gaza.
Nonetheless, EU leaders were quick to jump to conclusions on Tuesday, October 17th, despite the absence of clear evidence for either narrative.
“We got this information when we were together during this [emergency] meeting with the leaders, and it seems to be confirmed,” European Council President Charles Michel said during the press conference, adding simply that “an attack on civilian infrastructure is not in line with international law.”
Von der Leyen also seemed to blame Israel in her opening speech during Wednesday’s plenary meeting in the European Parliament, although in a cautious manner. Implying it was a deliberate attack, the Commission chief said, “There is no excuse for hitting a hospital full of civilians,” adding that “those responsible must be held accountable.”
In a statement released on Tuesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron clearly appeared to condemn Israel. “Nothing can justify striking a hospital. Nothing can justify targeting civilians,” Macron stressed, suggesting, like Michel, that it was a deliberate IDF strike instead of an accident caused by the Islamists.
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz called the incident “a war crime”—clearly putting the blame on Israel—adding that “the international community cannot continue to witness this barbarism against civilians.”
The British Defense Secretary, Grant Shapps, also refused to comment on the airstrike directly but said that while Israel “absolutely has the right to go after Hamas,” it must also ensure that it respects humanitarian law and that its response is “proportionate.”
