AM-124-4 to B-R3: Resolution for Peace and Justice in the Middle East

The European Green Party (EGP) and its member parties are gravely concerned by
the ongoing developments in the Middle East and the escalating situation that
was already addressed in the resolution “The European Greens Stand for a Lasting
End to Violence in Israel and Palestine” adopted at the EGP Congress of December
2023 after October 7th and the subsequent explosion of violence calling for an
immediate and permanent ceasefire.

Since then, our concern has increased in the light of the ultranationalist far-
right Israeli government’s flagrant disregard of 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. The humanitarian
situation has continued to worsen with catastrophic consequences. Meanwhile,
Hamas has continued violence and to hold hostages, who must be released
immediately and unconditionally.

Over the past year, the escalation has spread across the region. In Lebanon, the
Israeli government must immediately cease military strikes, ground operations,
and indiscriminate acts against civilians, UN staff and peacekeepers, medical
workers and journalists that are not aligned with international law. Hezbollah
and other militant groups must enact an immediate cessation of missile and drone
strikes and indiscriminate acts against civilians. The escalation on the
Israeli-Lebanese border must cease so that the huge numbers of internally
displaced people on both sides can return home. We condemn Iran’s attacks in
April and October 2024 against Israel as well as Iran’s proxy policy in the
region.

As European Greens, we are united in diversity and, without reservation, we
consider it essential to take action to stop all violence and the crimes that we
condemn with this resolution. It is borne out of the recognition that the EU and
all European countries bear a historical responsibility to do everything in
their power to prevent any genocidal developments in the world and help work
towards peace. In line with different views across Europe, some Member Parties
of the European Green Party consider the Palestinian people to be the victim of
genocide, others consider that this statement needs to be ruled by an
international court. This diversity does not prevent us from standing united in
condemnation of all crimes and calling for a fair, just and lasting solution
that includes the respect for the self-determination of the Palestinian and
Israeli peoples.

As European Greens, we advocate for a lasting peaceful two-state solution on the
basis of the 1967 borders and in accordance with international law. With the
election of Donald Trump in the United States, united and resolute European
action to build peace is more urgent than ever.

Therefore, the European Green Party, adopts the following points so that
decisive, immediate actions can address the ongoing human rights violations and
support the cessation of hostilities:

The European Green Party calls on all parties to the conflict:

• Implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the release of all
  Israeli hostages immediately and unconditionally

• work towards a two-state-solution on the basis of the 1967 borders and in
  accordance with international law

• 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, while
  respecting the right to self-determination, 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. This means that Palestine must provide safeguards
  for Israelis, Israel must provide safeguards for Palestinians, and both
  must provide safeguards for other marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+
  community

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

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

The EGP calls upon the EU, member states and other European states to:

• Recognize the gravity of the ongoing breaches of international law and
  take action to prevent further breaches

• Condemn all violations of international law, specifically violence against
  civilians, aid workers, medical staff, and a record number of UN staff

• Call for accountability regarding the attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers in
  Lebanon

• Sustain humanitarian aid for Palestine by all means necessary and increase
  support for UNRWA to end the increasingly dire famine and health
  conditions affecting Palestinian people, especially and urgently after the
  Knesset’s vote to ban UNWRA

• Recognize the right of Palestinian and Israeli people to self-
  determination, while also reaffirming support for a solution that enables
  durable peace grounded in equality and human rights

• Recognize the state of Palestine as a step towards the two-state-solution
  and welcome it into the United Nations

• Impose targeted sanctions on Israeli, Hamas, Hezbollah, Iranian, and any
  other individuals or entities implicated in war crimes, crimes against
  humanity, or human right abuses. Such sanctions can include travel bans,
  asset freezes, and restrictions on financial transactions

• Ensure Israel abides by Article 2 of the EU-Israel association agreement,
  respecting human rights and democratic principles, and establish a pathway
  to terminate the agreement if deemed necessary over concerns for human
  rights and democratic principles

• Except for equipment and assistance related to missile defence, call for
  comprehensive EU arms embargo on Israel due to the overriding risk that
  arms will be used to commit serious human rights violations and crimes
  under international law in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. The EU Common
  Position 2008/944/CFSP on arms exports does not allow exports which could
  contribute to human rights abuses

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

• Condemn antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes, in public and online

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

Furthermore, we call upon the Israeli government to:

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

• Reverse its recent ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) whose
  role is crucial and irreplaceable in alleviating human suffering in Gaza
  and providing vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees

• End the sea and land blockade on Gaza immediately

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

• 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

• Withdraw its forces to internationally recognized Israeli territory

• Allow Palestinians and Israelis to move freely. Safety controls must not
  be used as a means of discrimination

• Immediately release all Palestinians arbitrarily detained, particularly
  minors

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

Finally, we call upon the international community to:

• Do everything in its power to de-escalate the conflict and prevent its
  further spread and to supportindependent civil society in Israel and
  Palestine that work on peacebuilding

• Carry out full and independent investigations into all potential
  violations of international law

• Recognise Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories as unlawful, under the ICJ’s July 2024 advisory opinion, and in line UN experts’ analyses.

• Recognise Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as apartheid, which violates its international obligations under Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;

• Accept the findings of the 2017 report by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the 2022 report by Special Rapporteur Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the 2024 resolution by the UN Human Rights Council, and the July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion stating that Israel’s laws, policies, and practices violate the international prohibition of apartheid by:
  • Systematically segregating Jewish Israelis from Palestinians through laws and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territories;
  • Subjecting Israeli settlers in the West Bank to civil law while subjecting Palestinians to military law in the same territory;
  • Restricting Palestinians’ movement, residency, and access to resources such as water, land, and health services by the establishment of physical barriers, such as the separation wall, checkpoints, and the Israeli permit system; and
  • Establishing separate roads, schools, and infrastructure for Israeli settlers and Palestinians, preventing equal access to essential services.

• Hold individuals and entities accountable for their international obligations to prevent and punish acts of apartheid in Israel, the Occupied Territories, and beyond.

• Recognise that Israel’s warfare methods in Gaza are consistent with deliberate violence against Palestinians—including the systematic targeting of civilians, demolition of homes and infrastructure, dispossession of land, deprivation of essential resources like food, water, and medical care, and destruction of cultural heritage—aims to bring about the physical destruction of the Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and constitutes a genocide, as defined by Article II of the UN Genocide Convention, in violation of Israel’s obligation erga omnes, which it owes to the international community as a whole, and as highlighted most recently by the highlighted by the the United Nations Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories

• Support South Africa’s case against Israel before the ICJ;

• Take all measures available to it to ensure accountability for the genocide of Palestinians.

• Hold those who break international law accountable and support the work of
  the International Criminal Court

• Pressure all countries that are directly or indirectly involved, such as
  Israel, USA, Iran and Qatar to join the ICC

• Enforce warrants issued by the ICC. This must begin with the end to the
  active blocking of ICC jurisdiction by the UK and US Governments. At the
  same time, Qatar, which is used as a residence by some Hamas leaders to
  escape justice, must cooperate with the Court.

Conclusion

The European Green Party 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.