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Live Blog Update| Israel's genocide in Gaza

Opinion: European leaders are stoking the flames of a Middle East inferno

In the 10 months since the latest war in Gaza erupted, European leaders have produced an astonishing deluge of statements, which reflect disturbing cognitive dissonance and outrageous bias.

Like a broken record, they incessantly repeat the mantra that “Israel has the right to defend itself”. They parrot this when compelled to proffer any criticism of the Israeli excesses that have so far caused more than 40,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip.

Even when their spokespersons issue standard statements mentioning civilian casualties, the first sentence is usually: “Israel has the right to defend itself.” The message is unequivocal: Israel’s right comes first; everything else is secondary.

It is hard to believe that, over the last 10 months, Europe's decision-makers have not been briefed by their aides about the legal realities of what has been happening in Gaza and the West Bank before and since 7 October.

READ MORE: European leaders are stoking the flames of a Middle East inferno, opinion by Marco Carnelos

Smoke billows from a raging fire at oil storage tanks a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen's Hodeidah on 21 July 2024 (AFP)
Smoke billows from a raging fire at oil storage tanks a day after Israeli strikes on the port of Yemen's Hodeidah on 21 July 2024 (AFP)