The European Union issued a strong condemnation on Wednesday of recent statements made by Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich at the Katif Annual Conference. 

The EU criticized Smotrich's remarks suggesting that it "might be justified and moral" to let Israel "cause 2 million civilians to die of hunger" until the "hostages are returned."

In a statement released Wednesday, the EU emphasized that the deliberate starvation of civilians constitutes a war crime. “Minister Smotrich’s comments are beyond ignominious. They demonstrate, once again, his contempt for international law and basic principles of humanity,” the EU statement read.

The EU called on the Israeli government to unequivocally distance itself from Smotrich’s remarks. Additionally, the EU demanded transparency regarding reported acts of torture at the Sde Teiman prison.

The statement reiterated the EU’s ongoing call for Israel to implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and binding orders from the International Court of Justice. 

“The EU continues urging Israel to implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and binding orders of the International Court of Justice, and ensure full and unimpeded humanitarian access to cover the needs of scores of civilians, including hundreds of thousands of children, living in extremely dire conditions and exposed to famine and disease in Gaza,” the statement added.

Over 39,000 people have been killed in the eleven months that Israel has been brutally attacking civilian and militants in Gaza. It is not clear what percentage of that number is civilian casualties, but several footages have showed gruesome killing of children in Israeli attacks.

The war has caused a humanitarian crisis leaving over two million people displaced and suffering from food shortage.