Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza
Josep Borrell, the former foreign policy chief of the European Union, has accused Israel of carrying out genocide in its war on Gaza
10 May, 2025
Borrell is one of the most prominent figures to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza [Getty]
Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Friday accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and condemned both the US and Europe for their complicity in what he described as the most severe campaign of ethnic cleansing since the Second World War.
Speaking on Friday as he accepted the Charles V European Award in southwest Spain, Borrell said: "We’re facing the largest ethnic cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War in order to create a splendid holiday destination once all the millions of tonnes of rubble have been cleared from Gaza and the Palestinians have died or gone away."
Borrell, who served as the EU’s top diplomat from 2019 to 2024 and earlier as European Parliament president, directed sharp criticism not only at Israel but also at the international actors enabling its campaign.
"Three times more explosive power has been dropped on Gaza than was used in the Hiroshima bomb," he said, as quoted by The Guardian. "And for months now, nothing has been getting into Gaza. Nothing: no water, no food, no electricity, no fuel, no medical services. That’s what Netanyahu’s ministers have said, and it’s what they’ve done."
He accused Israel of systematically violating the laws of war and using starvation as a "weapon of war," adding that the rhetoric of Israeli leaders amounted to "clear declarations of genocidal intent". He added, "Seldom have I heard the leader of a state so clearly outline a plan that fits the legal definition of genocide."
But Borrell also turned his attention to Israel’s western backers. In remarks reported by Anadolu Agency, he said bluntly: "Half of the bombs that are falling on Gaza are supplied by the Americans." He added that this fact made it impossible for Washington to claim neutrality or distance itself from responsibility.
The EU, who Borrell previously represented, came under fire. "Europe has the capacity and the means not only to protest against what is going on but also to influence [Israel’s] conduct. But it is not doing so,” he said.
"If we really believe that too many people are dying, then the natural response would be to supply fewer weapons and to use the lever of the association agreement to demand that international humanitarian law is respected."
Borrell’s remarks, made in front of Spanish King Felipe VI and top EU officials, come as international pressure mounts over Israel’s conduct in Gaza and the silence - or support - of its key allies. His intervention is one of the most forceful by any former Western official since the conflict began.
At least 52,787 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023. This figure includes confirmed deaths but does not account for thousands more believed to be buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.
Additionally, over 119,300 people have been injured, and humanitarian agencies warn that the true toll, including those lost to starvation, disease, and displacement, could be significantly higher.
https://www.newarab.com/news/former-eu-top-diplomat-borrell-accuses-israel-gaza-genocide