EU’s top diplomat condemns Gaza starvation that Israeli minister called ‘moral’

European Union High Representative Josep Borrell on Monday condemned the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, urging Israel to halt actions that could further imperil the besieged region’s starving civilian population.

“The ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is creating life-threatening conditions for an already severely weakened civilian population that continues to be subject to starvation and repeated displacement,” the European External Action Service (EEAS) chief wrote in a statement.

Borrell also raised concerns about the destruction of key civilian infrastructure, such as the sanitation and health systems, which are causing the spread of infections and diseases among the population.

“We recall that targeting critical life-saving infrastructure constitutes a war crime and urge all parties to take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians, humanitarian workers, and critical civilian infrastructure,” his statement continued.

Borrell’s statement came hours after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich suggested letting Gazan civilians die of starvation was “justified and moral” in response to Hamas keeping Israeli hostages.

“We are bringing in aid because there is no choice,” he said Monday at a conference in the town of Yad Binyamin, according to Israeli media. “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.”

Over 100 Israeli hostages abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7 are still unaccounted for.

Over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive. | Bashar Taleb/Getty Images

“We live today in a certain reality, we need international legitimacy for this war,” Smotrich, who leads a far-right faction in the Knesset, added.

Major humanitarian organizations have been speaking out for months about the urgent need for a cease-fire in the Gaza war, highlighting the severe impact on civilians. Save the Children stressed that humanitarian workers and operations must also be protected.

According to Palestinian health authorities, over 39,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 raid, which killed 1,200 Israelis.