EU’s top diplomat: Gaza destruction may be worse, proportionally, than in WWII Germany

The situation in Gaza is “catastrophic, apocalyptic,” with destruction proportionally “even greater” than that which Germany experienced in World War II, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, says.

Israel’s military response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks has resulted in “an incredible number of civilian casualties,” Borrell says after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

While noting that Hamas’s bloody attacks cemented its place on the EU’s list of terrorist organizations, Borrell makes clear he sees Israel’s military operation as disproportionate in terms of civilian deaths and damage to civilian property and infrastructure.

“The human suffering constitutes an unprecedented challenge to the international community,” Borrell says. “Civilian casualties are between 60 and 70 percent of the overall deaths,” based on Gaza health ministry figures, and “85% of the population is internally displaced.”

“The destruction of buildings in Gaza… is more or less or even greater than the destruction suffered by the German cities during the Second World War,” taken proportionally, Borrell says.