High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Josep Borrell Fontelles (2019–2024)

With the development of the Gaza war, Borrell has been repeatedly critical of Israel actions, calling the country's siege of Gaza illegal and dismissing its evacuation orders as unrealistic. As European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, he condemned the "barbaric and terrorist attack" by Hamas on Israel which started the 2023 Gaza war. On 10 October 2023, Borrell accused Israel of breaking international law by imposing a total blockade of the Gaza Strip. On 3 January 2024, he condemned the comments of the Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, writing, "Forced displacements are strictly prohibited as a grave violation of [international humanitarian law] & words matter." On 29 January 2024, Borrell told UN Secretary-GeneralAntónio Guterres that funding toward UNRWA has not been suspended and the EU will determine funding decisions after the investigation. Borrell stated, "We shouldn’t let allegations cloud UNRWA’s indispensable and great work." In March 2024, Borrell said Israel's depriving food from Palestinians was a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and described the Al-Rashid humanitarian aid incident as "totally unacceptable carnage". Following the International Court of Justice advisory opinion on Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories, Borrell stated that international law is 'binding', and called for the EU foreign ministers "to move on from words to deeds" regarding Israel's failure to comply with international legality in Gaza and the West Bank.