Member of the European Parliament: True peace requires holding Israel accountable news

Member of the European Parliament for Ireland, Barry Andrews, stressed that holding Israel accountable for the crimes it committed in the Gaza Strip is the only way to achieve real and sustainable peace, calling on the European Union to keep the option of imposing sanctions on Tel Aviv on the table.

Andrews’ statements came in his interview with Anadolu Agency, coinciding with the European Union summit held in Brussels last Thursday, which discussed the future of relations with Israel after the recent ceasefire in Gaza.

Andrews said, “My country’s experience in the Irish peace process shows that peace cannot be achieved without justice and accountability. Reconciliation between Israel and the Palestinians needs continued international support, but it will not succeed if the world ignores the crimes that occurred.”

The European Representative explained that transitional justice is necessary to ensure accountability for what happened in the Gaza Strip, noting that “peace cannot be built on Israel’s impunity.”

Disarm Hamas

Andrews criticized the recent discussions in the European Parliament regarding the disarmament of Hamas within one week, considering those expectations “unrealistic.”

He added, “It is a mistake to reduce the peace process to the issue of disarming Hamas only. A lasting peace cannot be achieved without true reconciliation, and there is no reconciliation without accountability and justice for the Palestinians who suffered from war and occupation.”

He stressed that any future political arrangements must be based on justice and accountability and not only on “temporary security arrangements.”

Andrews said that sanctions on Israel “are not just a political pressure tool, but rather a legal and moral obligation imposed by international law,” recalling that the International Court of Justice recognized the illegality of the Israeli occupation of the occupied West Bank, which requires the European Union to take concrete measures against Tel Aviv, such as restricting trade relations and stopping arms exports.

He also called for ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches the Gaza Strip without any delay, noting that Israel still imposes severe restrictions on the transit of aid and obstructs the work of international organizations working in the humanitarian field.

Reconstruction

Andrews stressed the importance of holding an international conference for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, explaining that the Arab countries will have a pivotal role in financing and implementing reconstruction projects. However, he stressed at the same time that the European Union must lead the reconstruction plan to ensure sustainability and transparency in resource management.

Andrews’ statements come weeks after the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) entered into force on October 10, according to the American mediation plan proposed by President Donald Trump.

The agreement ended a bloody war of extermination that lasted two full years, leading to the death of more than 68,000 Palestinians and the injury of about 170,000 others, in addition to the destruction of 90% of the civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.