Former EU high representative Josep Borrell on Thursday accused the European Commission and European Council of failing to act over crimes committed by U.S. mercenaries in Gaza.
“In just one month, U.S. mercenaries have killed 550 Palestinians who were trying to get food at the distribution points designated by the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This is horrifying, yet the @EU_Commission and @EUCouncil still haven’t taken any action against these criminal acts,” Borrell wrote in a post on X.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GFH) — a food aid organization backed by the U.S. and Israel — has drawn criticism over shootings of civilians seeking aid, with 170 NGOs recently urging its closure.
According to the media office of the government in Gaza, at least 549 people have been killed and 4,000 injured while attempting to get aid since GFH began operations on May 27.
Israeli forces and U.S. contractors — often mercenaries — provide security at GFH’s four aid distribution sites. The American contractors have been using live ammunition and stun grenades as Palestinians scramble for food, according to accounts and videos obtained by the Associated Press.
GFH began operations in Gaza after Israel relaxed a three-month blockade of the enclave. Since then there have been almost daily reports of Israeli and American forces firing upon and killing civilians travelling to the aid distribution center.
U.N. chief António Guterres slammed the GFH operation in Gaza as “inherently unsafe” in late June, adding that “it is killing people.”
Swiss authorities ordered the dissolution of the GFH branch in Geneva on Wednesday.
Israel, meanwhile, denies that its soldiers have deliberately shot those in need, and says the food distribution system is effective. GFH says it has delivered more than 52 million meals in five weeks.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s current foreign policy chief, initially took a more pragmatic approach to the region after taking over the role from her predecessor Borrell, an outspoken critic of Israel.
But since Israel started blocking humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, Kallas has toughened her stance, stating “enough is enough” on June 18.
The EU recently found Israel guilty of human rights abuses and plans to re-examine its association agreement with the country.
