The EU’s former foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has accused his previous boss Ursula von der Leyen, and other EU leaders, of complicity in the “genocide of Palestinians” by Israel in Gaza.

“Those who do not act to stop this genocide and these violations of international law, even though they have the power to do so, are complicit in them. This is unfortunately the case with the leaders of the European Union and those of its member states,” Borrell wrote in an op-ed published in left-wing British newspaper The Guardian on Friday.

“The leaders of the EU and its member states will probably be called to account in the future for their complicity in the crimes against humanity committed by [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s government,” he wrote.

The 78-year-old Spanish socialist, who held his EU role between 2019 and 2024, said that European leaders have a legal duty to cancel the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Israel’s breach of its humanitarian obligations in Gaza.

The agreement is a legal framework that gives Israel perks on trade, visas and research collaboration.

“This is the only language that can bring Israeli leaders to stop committing crimes against humanity,” the former Spanish foreign minister wrote.

He added that the EU’s failure to put pressure on Netanyahu’s government was damaging the bloc’s international standing, accusing it of applying a double standard compared to its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Borrell also advocated blocking weapons deliveries to Israel, banning imports from West Bank settlements, sanctioning far-right ministers, and banning Netanyahu from Europe’s airspace.

He chaired the meetings of EU governments’ foreign ministers for nine months after 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel from Gaza.

Although he did not use the word ‘genocide’ while in office, he repeatedly called on Israel to respect international humanitarian law in Gaza. In light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza in recent months, Borrell has become more vocal in his criticism of European institutions.

(cs, jp)