EU foreign affairs chief accuses Israel of facilitating Hamas’s rise

Head of the European Union’s foreign affairs department, Josep Borrell, reaffirms his allegation that Israel was crucial to the formation of Hamas

The head of the European Union’s foreign affairs department, Josep Borrell, has made a startling reaffirmation of his contentious allegation that Israel was crucial to the formation of Hamas, the exact organization it is now attempting to destroy in Gaza. Speaking on Monday at a session organized by a business school in Madrid, Borrell elaborated on his previous accusations, claiming that Israel’s policies had unintentionally encouraged the rise of Hamas as a rival group to Fatah, the main Palestinian organization.

In response to questions over his statements from January, in which he said that Israel had “created” and “financed” Hamas during the current struggle in Gaza, Borrell reiterated his perspective. He clarified his stance by saying, “It has enabled the development of Hamas, but I do not say that (Israel) financed it by sending a cheque.” He underlined that Hamas has become a more potent force against Fatah as a result of Israel’s aim of dividing the Palestinian people.

Borrell’s remarks are set against the tragic background of the Gaza War, which broke out on Oct. 7 in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel. Approximately 1,160 people, mostly civilians, were killed in the strike, according to numbers supplied by Israel. Israel responded by launching a military attack in Gaza, which killed at least 29,782 people, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry.

During his speech, Borrell also discussed the larger Israeli-Palestinian dilemma, arguing that the only workable solution is a two-state solution, a position Netanyahu rejects. In a region tainted by decades of bloodshed and varied national ambitions, the difficulties of attaining peace are highlighted by this continuing debate and the sad toll of the Gaza war.

Source: AFP