Brussels: A member of the European Parliament has publicly accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of being complicit in what he describes as genocide in Gaza due to her continued support for Israel. Marc Botenga, a Belgian MEP from the Left group, leveled these accusations amidst ongoing conflict in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, Botenga's criticism came in a post on X, where he accused von der Leyen of acknowledging the atrocities committed against Palestinians, including the deaths of civilians and the dire humanitarian situation, yet maintaining European Union backing for Israel. Botenga highlighted instances of violence, such as Israeli bombs impacting Gazan children and reports of teenage boys being targeted. He characterized von der Leyen's actions as 'empty words' and 'active complicity.'

The statement from Botenga was a reaction to von der Leyen's earlier condemnation of attacks on civilians and her call for humanitarian access to Gaza. Despite these calls, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with reports indicating that over 59,100 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed since October 2023. The ongoing military campaign has severely impacted Gaza's infrastructure, leading to a collapsed health system and severe food shortages.

The international legal community is also responding to the situation. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice related to its actions in the enclave.