Pro bono legal advice from Garden Court barristers Zehrah Hasan and Fatima Jichi has informed a seminal new report from the non-governmental organisation, Global Witness, on a gas pipeline running from Israel to Egypt, which crosses Palestinian maritime territory.
The EU signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022 with Israel and Egypt to import gas via the pipeline to Europe. The report details how the pipeline, also known as the East Mediterranean Gas (EMG) pipeline, runs parallel to Gaza’s shore and has transited around $19 billion worth of gas supplies through Palestinian waters, without the consent of the Palestinian authorities or the payment of any fees to Palestine.
The legal opinion underpinning Global Witness’s investigation identified likely breaches of international law by Israel arising from the pipeline’s operation and subsequent potential EU complicity in maintaining the gas deal with Israel. In light of the advice, Global Witness’s Senior Investigator said that pursuing the gas deal “tramples over Palestinian rights and effectively helps bankroll Israel’s genocide on Gaza”.
As a result of the findings, Global Witness has called for (a) an end to EU imports of Israeli gas, (b) legal accountability and (c) respect for Palestinian rights.
The investigation comes at a time when the EU is facing growing calls to cut its trade alliances with Israel.
The investigation’s findings have been covered by The Guardian.
Quoted in The Guardian, Zehrah stated:
“[the pipeline is] another example of how Israel is very likely breaching international law in its continued denial of Palestinian sovereignty. There’s a very strong basis to contend that the EU is likely in violation of customary international law and EU law by signing and continuing the MoU.”
The report also builds upon work spearheaded by Palestinian-led organisations and grassroots groups over many years, to highlight gas and resource exploitation in Palestine, including Al-Haq, Global Energy Embargo for Palestine, Energy Embargo for Palestine (UK-based), the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network, the Palestinian Institute for Climate Strategy, the Gastivists Collective, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and many more.
