R3 A9: Resolution for Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel

The Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) and its member organisations are
gravely concerned by the ongoing situation in Palestine and Israel. We are
particularly disturbed by the far-right Israeli Government's flagrant disregard
for the ICJ's ruling that Israel must halt its military operations in Rafah and
Gaza on the grounds that such actions could lead to conditions conducive to
genocide (United Nations, 2023).

This resolution is borne out of the recognition that the European Union (EU) and
the governments of EU member states and other European countries have the urgent
responsibility to do everything in their power to prevent a genocide of the
Palestinian people, and to work towards peace between Israel and
Palestine—however distant this prospect may seem today.

FYEG condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the horrific terrorist attacks
of October 7th, in which Hamas abducted hundreds of civilians in a surprise
assault targeting a music festival, public spaces, and people's homes (BBC,
2023). These attacks, in which there are widespread reports of the use of rape
as a weapon of war, constitute war crimes (Human Rights Watch, 2023). Hamas must
immediately and unconditionally release all hostages.

We also recognise the decades of systemic oppression of Palestinians by the
Israeli state, and the failure of liberal democracies of the West to play a
useful role in the establishment of Peace and enforcement of UN resolutions in
the area. Movement restrictions, such as the network of checkpoints and a
complex permit system, severely hinder the daily lives of Palestinians,
impacting access to education, healthcare, employment, and family life (United
Nations, 2023). Land confiscation and settlement expansion policies in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem forcibly displace Palestinian families and consolidate
Israeli control over critical resources (Amnesty International, 2021). The dual
legal system in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers are subject to Israeli
civil law while Palestinians are governed by military law, further entrenches
discrimination and inequality (United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, 2022). Discriminatory urban planning policies result in
the demolition of Palestinian homes and severe building restrictions, leading to
forced displacement and hindering Palestinian development (Human Rights Watch,
2020).

The blockade on Gaza, imposed since 2007, restricts the movement of people and
goods, exacerbating poverty and humanitarian crises (United Nations, 2021).
Throughout history, violence by Israel against Palestinians has been marked by
atrocities. Notable examples include the massacres of Deir Yassin, Lydda, and
Al-Dawayima in 1948, the Khan Yunis, Rafah, and Kafr Qasim massacres in 1956,
and various acts of violence during the 1967 Six-Day War (Palestinian Return
Centre). Recent conflicts, such as the May 2021 conflict, have seen Israeli
airstrikes resulting in unacceptable civilian casualties, as exemplified by the
strikes on Al-Wahda Street in Gaza City and the al-Shati refugee camp (Human
Rights Watch, 2021). At the same time, Palestinian-nationalists’ and Palestinian-islamists’ violence against Israelis has also been marked by acts of brutality. Examples of violence are attacks on Israelis through kidnappings, bombings and attacks, namely through the Palestinian Liberation Organization and more recently by Hamas on the 7th of October of 2023. We do not see these organizations as representatives of Palestinans as a whole, but note that these acts have also played into the dynamic of the conflict. Furthermore, we also note that Palestinian national conflicts have largely been instrumentalised by many countries in the region.

Since October 7th,the Israeli Government's response has escalated dramatically,
committing actions that amount to war crimes and state terrorism (Amnesty
International, 2023). Numerous Israeli airstrikes have targeted densely
populated areas in Gaza, leading to significant civilian casualties (Human
Rights Watch, 2023). On October 17, 2023, the Israeli military brutally attacked
Al Ahli Hospital, killing over 470 civilians (United Nations, 2023) and the
UNRWA school in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp, which sheltered around 4,000 displaced
people (United Nations, 2023). These heinous attacks not only cause immediate
and unacceptable loss of human life but also obliterate essential civilian
infrastructure, exacerbating civilian suffering (Amnesty International, 2023).
Additionally, the large-scale evacuations ordered in northern Gaza on October
15, 2023, result in forced displacement without adequate provisions or safe
relocation areas, flagrantly violating international humanitarian law (Human
Rights Watch, 2023). The complete siege of Gaza, cutting off vital supplies like
food, water, and medicine, amounts to collective punishment with catastrophic
consequences for the civilian population (United Nations, 2023). The use of
white phosphorus in densely populated areas, such as the attack on Gaza City
port on October 11, 2023, verified by Human Rights Watch, is a blatant violation
of international humanitarian law (Human Rights Watch, 2023). Attacks on
humanitarian workers, including the drone strike on World Central Kitchen
Workers on April 1, 2024, and a Doctors Without Borders convoy on November 18,
2023, are egregious impediments to humanitarian efforts and violate
international protections for humanitarian personnel (Médecins Sans Frontières,
2023). As the International Rescue Committee stated, due to the actions of the
Israeli military, “Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid
worker, as well as the most dangerous place to be a civilian” (International
Rescue Committee, 2023).

The Israeli Parliament's vote against the two-state solution is yet more
evidence that the political leadership in the country does not take seriously
the peaceful resolution of this conflict or the rights of Palestinians, and
makes clear their intent to eradicate Palestine (The Guardian, 2023).

The illegal actions of the Israeli government are not reflective of the totality
of the citizens of Israel, Jewish faith or the global Jewish community, and to
suggest otherwise is antisemitic. Rhetoric which downplays the seriousness of
the Holocaust is Holocaust denialism and is, in turn, antisemitic. Likewise,
Islamist terrorist organisations, that mostly target and terrorise the peoples
living in countries with a Muslim majority, do not represent Islam or the global
Muslim community, and to suggest otherwise is Islamophobic. FYEG is committed to
the eradication of antisemitism, Islamophobia and other racial, ethnic or
religious discrimination in all forms. Europe is experiencing a rise in
antisemitism and anti-Muslim racism all over Europe (European Union Agency for
Fundamental Rights, 2023). We strongly condemn all incidents against Jewish and
Muslim communities and institutions. Every incident is an attack against our
shared values, our democracy, and our pluralistic societies.

The further escalation of this conflict outside of the borders of Israel and
Palestine is of grave concern. Particular flashpoints have included Hezbollah's
rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon and Israel's bombing of Hezbollah in
Lebanese territory (BBC, 2023) as well as Israel's bombing of the Iranian
embassy in Syria and the attacks launched in retaliation against Israeli targets
by Iran (Reuters, 2023).

The international community has repeatedly called for Israel to end its
oppressive practices and adhere to international law (United Nations, 2023).
However, Israel's actions continue unabated, leading to widespread condemnation
and calls for accountability (Amnesty International, 2023). We, the Federation
of Young European Greens, are adding our collective voice to this call. As a
federation committed to LGBTQ+ liberation, we reject Israel’s
instrumentalisation of our struggle through the pinkwashing of its crimes.

The Federation of Young European Greens calls upon the EU, the governments of EU
member states and other European states to:

• Recognise the right of Palestinian and Israeli people to self-
  determination, and reaffirm support for a two-state solution based on
  secure and mutually agreed borders on 1967 lines.

• Recognise the state of Palestine, with its capital in Jerusalem, and
  welcome it into the UN.

• Condemn the criminalisation and police violence against Palestine
  protestors in Europe.

• Divest public bodies from companies involved in human rights abuses or war
  crimes.

• Ensure Israel abides by Article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement,
  respecting human rights and democratic principles.

• Prohibit the import of all Israeli goods and services from the occupied
  territories.

• End the sale and export of weapons to Israel.

• Promote divestment from companies supporting human rights abuses or war
  crimes.

• Increase funding for political education about the conflict, antisemitism,
  and anti-Muslim racism, and strengthen youth exchange programmes between
  Europeans, Israelis, and Palestinians.

Furthermore, to offer a perspective of just peace and mutual prosperity for all
peoples in both Palestine and Israel, we call upon the Israeli government to:

• Cease and dismantle illegal settlements and return land to rightful
  Palestinian owners in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 242,
  252, and 446.

• Immediately release all Palestinians arbitrarily detained, particularly
  minors.

• Stop using administrative detention and ensure the right to a fair trial.

• Withdraw forces to internationally recognised Israeli territory.

• Allow freedom of movement for all Israeli and Palestinian people and
  remove checkpoints.

• Facilitate humanitarian aid and supplies into Palestine and ensure
  unimpeded access for humanitarian actors.

• Address the increase in settler violence and end the use of excessive
  force by the Israeli military in the West Bank, which have led to
  killings, injuries, displacement, and increased movement restrictions.

• End the sea and land blockade on Gaza immediately.

Similarly, we call upon the political leadership in both Israel and Palestine
to:

• Implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

• Abide by international treaties promoting peace and security, including
  the Geneva Convention and the 1951 Refugee Convention.

• Negotiate a just solution for Palestinian refugees' right to return, with
  appropriate compensation for those who do not return.

• Cooperate with all ICC arrest warrants.

• Guarantee full human, civil, and political rights for all, regardless of
  religion or ethnicity.

• Respect and promote a tolerant environment for the free practice of all
  religious confessions, including the physical integrity and granted access
  to religious buildings and spaces.

• Respect the freedom of opinion and expression of parliamentarians,
  journalists, artists and all other civilians and to make sure that people
  are freely able to exercise these rights in a safe and respectful
  environment.

Finally, we call upon the international community to:

• Do everything in its power to de-escalate the conflict and prevent its
  spreading elsewhere. In particular, the Iranian regime must cease all
  support and funding for Hamas and other terrorist organisations in the
  region (United States Institute of Peace, 2023).

• Carry out full and independent investigations into all potential
  violations of international law (Human Rights Watch, 2023).

• Hold those who break international law accountable and support the work of
  the International Criminal Court (International Criminal Court, 2023).

• In particular, Qatar, which is used as a residence by some Hamas leaders
  to escape justice, must become a member of the ICC and cooperate with the
  court (United Nations, 2023).

• Enforce warrants issued by the International Criminal Court. This must
  begin with the end to the active blocking of ICC jurisdiction by the UK
  and US Governments (The Guardian, 2023).

Conclusion

The Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) stands firm in its commitment to
justice, peace, and the protection of human rights. We call for sustainable and
long-term solutions to address the root causes of the situation, and we express
our solidarity with all victims. The international community must act decisively
to end the violence and support a just and lasting resolution.

References:

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