EU staff take commission head to task

Staff of European Union institutions have accused the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of bias in the Palestine-Israel armed conflict, as mass demonstrations were held across Europe calling for an end to the crisis.

About 800 EU staff signed a letter that was delivered to von der Leyen's office on Friday to protest against what was said to be her bias toward Israel by ignoring the stance of member states.

"We are concerned about the unconditional support by the European Commission you represent, for one of the two parties," said the three-page letter, signed by EU staff in Brussels and representative offices worldwide.

"We, a group of EU Commission and other EU institutions' staff, solemnly condemn on personal grounds the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against helpless civilians … We equally strongly condemn the disproportionate reaction by the Israeli government against the 2.3 million Palestinian civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip.

"Precisely because of these atrocities we are surprised by the stance the European Commission has taken — and even other EU institutions — promoting what has been described in the press as European cacophony."

The staff also voiced concerns about "the seeming indifference demonstrated over the past few days by our institution toward the ongoing massacre of civilians in the Gaza Strip, in disregard for human rights and international humanitarian law".

"We urge you to call, together with the leaders of the whole union, for a cease-fire and for the protection of civilian life. This is at the core of the EU existence.

"The EU risks losing all credibility."

Von der Leyen was also criticized for a speech she made at the Hudson Institution in Washington last week in which she neglected to mention the two-state solution, a core EU position that was referred to in a joint statement by European Council members on Oct 15.

Some Members of the European Parliament also criticized her for failing, on a trip to Israel last week, to urge the country to abide by international law in its siege and bombardments in Gaza.

'Serious implications'

"The criticism (of von der Leyen) is not accidental because it has serious implications," said Dionis Cenusa, a visiting fellow at the Eastern Europe Studies Centre in Lithuania.

Many Europeans are infuriated by what is said to be their leaders' bias and silence regarding the crisis in Gaza.

In central London, about 100,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Saturday. They marched toward 10 Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Similar demonstrations, on a smaller scale, took place in Belgium, France and Germany.

Several European countries, including France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, have recently issued bans on pro-Palestine gatherings, triggering outcries from human rights groups.

Pro-Israel demonstrations and vigils have also been held around the world, many focused on securing the return of hostages captured by Hamas, The Associated Press reported.

Rome's Jewish community on Friday remembered the more than 200 people believed held by Hamas.

As the conflict has flared, more than 4,300 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis are reported to have been killed in the conflict.

A small measure of relief came when 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed on Saturday to enter Gaza across the southern Rafah border crossing with Egypt. A convoy of 17 aid trucks was allowed to enter Gaza from Egypt on Sunday, Egypt's state-run media reported.

Relief workers said far more was needed to address the spiraling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where half the territory's 2.3 million people have fled their homes.

The UN humanitarian agency, known as OCHA, said Saturday's convoy carried about 4 percent of an average day's imports before the war and "a fraction of what is needed after 13 days of complete siege."

The World Health Organization says at least 130 premature babies are at "grave risk" because of a shortage of generator fuel. It said seven hospitals in northern Gaza have been forced to shut down due to damage from strikes, lack of power and supplies, or Israeli evacuation orders.

Agencies contributed to this story.