Israel accused the European Commission’s second most senior member of being a mouthpiece for terrorist propaganda after she said the country was committing genocide in Gaza.
“We strongly condemn the baseless allegations made by the executive vice president of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson told Euractiv. “By doing so, Ribera has made herself a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda.”
Ribera, a Spanish socialist who oversees competition policy at the EU executive, made a speech on Thursday saying that Israel was committing genocide.
“The genocide in Gaza exposes Europe’s failure to act and speak with one voice, even as protests spread across European cities,” she said in a lecture at a French university.
Though Ribera, whose Spanish party is a longtime critic of Israel, has previously suggested the country’s military campaign in Gaza amounted to genocide, this was the first time she categorically asserted it. The European Commission does not use the term, and a court case accusing Israel of genocide, brought by South Africa, is still pending at the International Court of Justice.
“Instead of parroting the ‘genocide’ blood libel spread by Hamas, Ribera should have called for the release of all hostages and for Hamas to lay down its arms so that the war can end,” the spokesperson said.
The Israeli government’s response marks a new diplomatic spat between the right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and European politicians. Israel severely criticised the EU Commission for proposing a partial suspension of Israeli companies from its Horizon research program, saying it only served to strengthen Hamas. The move has not secured the required majority among EU governments to be implemented.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, made a deal with Israel to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza, but critics say Israel is not meeting the requirements.
Ribera was one of four commissioners to send a letter to civil servants this week, saying Gaza was the “primary focus” of the institution, and calling for “urgent action.” “The EU has consistently called for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid,” Ribera and her colleagues wrote.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who dispatched Ribera to Brussels, already accused Israel of genocide in June. The attacks coincided with a deepening corruption scandal engulfing Sánchez and his inner circle.
Netanyahu also attacked Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever this week, whose country said it was planning to recognise a Palestinian state, and he has also traded barbs with French President Emmanuel Macron and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen this summer.
Victoria Becker contributed reporting.
