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Suspension of Israel’s observer status

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16199 | 18 June 2025

Signatories:
Mr Benjamin DALLE, Belgium, EPP/CD ; Mr Dan ALDRIDGE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Abdurrahman BABACAN, Türkiye, NR ; Ms Alice BERNARD , Belgium, UEL ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Ms Sophia CHIKIROU, France, UEL ; Mr Yves CRUCHTEN, Luxembourg, SOC ; Ms Sevim DAĞDELEN, Germany, UEL ; Ms Cat ECCLES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Edite ESTRELA, Portugal, SOC ; Mr Emmanuel FERNANDES, France, UEL ; Ms Seda GÖREN BÖLÜK, Türkiye, NR ; Mr Andrej HUNKO, Germany, UEL ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Ms Anne LAMBELIN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Ettore Antonio LICHERI, Italy, UEL ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Mr Benoît LUTGEN, Belgium, ALDE ; Ms Luz MARTINEZ SEIJO, Spain, SOC ; Ms Zeynep YILDIZ, Türkiye, NR

The population of Gaza, including its children, is facing starvation, dehydration, and a lack of access to medical care. Since 2 March 2025, all aid deliveries have been halted. On 25 April, the World Food Programme confirmed that its food stocks are fully depleted. On 2 May, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that humanitarian operations are “on the verge of total collapse.” Field-based organisations report that no safe zones remain in Gaza. Civilians are left without any safe place of refuge.

These developments follow repeated appeals by the Parliamentary Assembly –most notably in its Resolution 2582 (2025) and the current affairs debate of 10 April 2025– calling on Israel to allow humanitarian access and abide by international humanitarian law. Those appeals have been ignored, and the situation has further deteriorated.

While it is acknowledged that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have committed grave violations –including the 7 October attacks, the obstruction of aid, and the continued holding of hostages– Israel, as a sovereign State and observer to the Assembly, bears a distinct and primary responsibility under international law. Observer status with the Assembly is granted to States that demonstrate a sustained commitment to the core values of the Council of Europe – human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. This status may be suspended when those principles are persistently violated.

The Assembly should therefore:

  • reiterate its condemnation of all violations of international humanitarian law by all parties, including Israel’s obstruction of aid and attacks on civilian infrastructure;
  • urgently call for full and unconditional humanitarian access to Gaza and an immediate ceasefire;
  • suspend Israel’s observer status with the Assembly until its authorities comply with international humanitarian law and take concrete steps in response to the repeated appeals of the Assembly;
  • urge all parties, including Hamas, to respect international humanitarian law and to release all hostages without delay.