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Claudio Francavilla

@claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social
2.1K followers 272 following 291 posts

Associate EU Director at @hrw.org Posts about #EU foreign policy on #HumanRights, mainly #MiddleEast, #Asia, #EUtrade, #UN #HRC Slowly transitioning here from an irredeemably ruined Twitter. Usual caveats

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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 6h
If genocidal acts don’t suffice to suspend a treaty that is allegedly based on a human rights clause, then what does? The past three years have shown that, for the EU, the issue is not what abuses are committed, but who commits and who suffers them: europeancorrespondent.com/en/r/what-ha...
europeancorrespondent.com
What happened to EU sanctions on Israel? (The sequel)
The EU promised to sanction Israeli ministers and partially suspend the EU-Israel trade agreement in September 2025. Neither has happened. Why? Shortly after…
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A side-effect of @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu’s refusal to uphold international law: she has abandoned EU states to Israel's petty retaliation. When will her failure end? www.hrw.org/news/2026/09...
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Friederike Mager @friederikemager.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
#Syria: 'Return to Nothing' - Visit the exhibition by Ali Haj Suleiman at @europarl.europa.eu from 28.9. to 1.10. 📸 Join us on Monday, 28 Sept, at 18h30 for the opening - hosted by MEP Marco Tarquinio & with remarks by EEAS SecGen @kajsaollongren.bsky.social. Need access to EP? 🔗 t.co/mXKFQ7Zcpw
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
#Bahrain has been jailing and torturing two EU citizens and human rights defenders for 15 years. And what does the EU do? Seek a bilateral partnership agreement, of course: euobserver.com/238799/eu-ba... #EUGCC #GCC #FreeAlKhawaja #FreeAlMuqdad @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social
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ZN @znconsulting.com · 18/09/2026
🕊️ Meet the #EUinfluencer2026 Top 5 in Democracy & Human Rights: 🥇 @clafrancavilla.wsocial.eu 🥈 @enriqueanartelazo.bsky.social 🥉 @lotteleicht.bsky.social 🏅 @alemanno.bsky.social 🏅 @stevepeers.bsky.social #EUinfluencer #10YearsofEUInfluencer
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
In her #SOTEU speech, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu called Israeli settlements "unacceptable", but resisted calls to ban EU trade fueling their economy. Hard to see the point. Easy to see the (embarrassing and criminal) results: euobserver.com/238230/israe...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
#China: new decree expands discretion to bar nationals and non-nationals from leaving the country. Anyone applying to leave must prove their reasons are “truthful and lawful”, whatever that means. If it sounds nightmarish and unlawful, it’s because it is: hrw.org/news/2026/09...
hrw.org
China: New Border Decree Curtails Right to Leave
A new Chinese government decree expands the discretion of administrative authorities to arbitrarily bar people from leaving China, violating the internationally protected right to leave a country.
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
🧵 @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu's #SOTEU speech and EU foreign policy: a non-exhaustive take on what's good, what's bad, what's missing, and what that means for human rights (which, like last year, she never dared to mention as such) From Greenland to China, from Gaza to Ukraine, here you go ⤵️
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Last year, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu proposed suspending the #EU - #Israel trade agreement and sanctioning "extremist" ministers & settlers One year on, she has almost nothing to show - and a lot more to deliver, starting with a settlement trade ban: hrw.org/news/2026/09... #SOTEU
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Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 11/09/2026
In a significant step this week, the UK, France, and Canada announced a trade ban with Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank. Other countries and the European Union should follow suit, banning trade that supports Israel’s unlawful occupation, ethnic cleansing and apartheid.
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Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 09/09/2026
The UK, France, and Canada have announced a trade ban with Israel’s illegal settlements, joining Norway, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium, who already adopted such measures.  Other governments and institutions, including the EU, should follow suit. Read more: bit.ly/3SVbjxR
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Human Rights Watch en français @hrw-fr.hrw.org · 09/09/2026
Interdiction du commerce avec les colonies israéliennes illégales en Cisjordanie par la France, le Royaume-Uni et le Canada : "Les mesures annoncées relèvent du strict minimum, il s'agit même d'une obligation légale." - @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social ⤵️
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Human Rights Watch en français @hrw-fr.hrw.org · 08/09/2026
L’annonce de la France, parmi d'autres pays, d'interdire le commerce avec les colonies israéliennes illégales en Cisjordanie marque un changement positif attendu de longue date pour sanctionner les crimes de guerre, d'apartheid et de nettoyage ethnique commis par Israël. www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20...
rfi.fr
Cisjordanie occupée: 12 pays, dont la France et le Royaume-Uni, veulent «sanctionner le commerce avec les colonies» israéliennes
Douze pays, dont la France, le Royaume-Uni et le Canada, veulent « imposer des sanctions au commerce de biens avec des colonies illégales (...) » d'Israël en Cisjordanie pour protester contre les viol...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
#Bahrain has been jailing a Danish & a Swedish human rights defender for 15 years - among many others. Despite that, the EU picked Bahrain as the first Gulf country to upgrade its partnership with. There should be no progress without their release: hrw.org/news/2026/09... @kajakallas.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Most political parties in #Sweden say they stand for international law. But do they when it comes to Israel & Palestine? Ahead of the #elections, we asked them 12 concrete questions - on EU sanctions, ICC, trade, arms, UNRWA. Here are the results: hrw.org/news/2026/09...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Even the Financial Times is calling on Europe to suspend the 🇪🇺-🇮🇱 Association Agreement and ban trade with settlements. Shamefully, 🇩🇪 #Merz & 🇮🇹 #Meloni continue to block the former - while @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu has yet to even propose the latter. 👉🏽 www.ft.com/content/9669...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Commissioners @wopkehoekstra.ec.europa.eu & Sefcovic are right: #China is not playing by market rules But that includes its forced labour and suppression of independent unions, which act as de facto "subsidies" One more reason to address them in the EU's new China strategy: hrw.org/news/2026/07...
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sunderjhrw.bsky.social @sunderjhrw.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Spain has finally started sheltering thousands of migrants & asylum seekers who lived outdoors for 3 weeks in Ceuta. Many still need adequate shelter & food, and all of them need fair, individual assessments. Our report after a four-day mission to Ceuta: www.hrw.org/news/2026/08...
hrw.org
Spain: Humanitarian and Rights Crisis in Ceuta
The Spanish government and local authorities in its North African enclave Ceuta should act urgently to provide adequate shelter to all migrants and asylum seekers living unsheltered since entering Ceu...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Israeli settlers and security forces shouldn't even be in the West Bank. Instead, they keep killing, terrorizing and displacing Palestinians at record levels - with full state backing. But for Germany & Italy it's fine to keep trading with them. New @hrw.org report: hrw.org/news/2026/08...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
🔴 @kajakallas.bsky.social: banning trade with Israeli settlements "most supported option" during EU foreign ministers meeting. But qualified majority not there yet. Shamelessly, IT #Tajani & DE @aussenminister.diplo.de claim unanimity needed, despite clear obligations: www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
As EU foreign ministers meet to discuss trade with Israeli settlements, it's astonishing a ban is presented as just an 'option' It's the only measure that complies with int'l law - and that doesn't bankroll occupation & apartheid: www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
theguardian.com
EU accused of dragging its feet over ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements
Foreign ministers will discuss options on Monday but decision on imports is not expected for months
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
🔴 The "unanimity wall" has fallen: in a "list of options" to restrict EU trade with Israel's illegal settlements, the Commission has finally acknowledged it can be done by qualified majority A ban is the only "option" that complies with int'l law. And is within reach: euobserver.com/226735/a-ban...
euobserver.com
A ban on Israeli settlement products? Here are the options the EU is considering
Ahead of the key meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday (13 July), the European Commission has circulated an options paper exploring ways to restrict trade between the EU and Israeli illegal settle...
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Human Rights Watch auf Deutsch @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Israels Siedlungen sind illegal. Ein Verbot des Handels der EU mit Israels illegalen Siedlungen ist keine „Option“ – es ist längst überfällig sowie verpflichtend. Mehr von @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social zum bevorstehenden EU-Außenministertreffen am 13. Juli: www.hrw.org/de/news/2026...
hrw.org
Ein Verbot des EU-Handels mit israelischen Siedlungen ist keine „Option“. Es ist eine Verpflichtung
Die Verpflichtung der Europäischen Union, den Handel mit Israels illegalen Siedlungen zu verbieten, steht außer Frage. Fraglich ist vielmehr seit Langem der politische Wille ihrer Führung, dieser Verp...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
The EU has spent decades sharing “concerns” over Israel’s illegal settlements and related abuses. It should at least stop bankrolling them. And that’s not an “option”, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu; it's an obligation: hrw.org/news/2026/06...
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Philippe Dam @philippedam.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
3 years after MoU w/ #Tunisia, #EU policy let human rights down & exposed EU officials to bullying & humiliation. @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu: take stock of this failure, push for reset that ties relation to real human rights progress Our letter 👇 www.hrw.org/news/2026/06... @eudiplomacy.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
🧵 As the #EU Commission prepares a "list of options" to restrict EU trade with #Israel 's illegal settlements, 12 NGOs sent a joint letter making two things clear: 1. The only "option" is a ban 2. It must be adopted by qualified majority (Art. 207 TFEU) Here is why 👇🏽 1/8
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
🔴 Momentum keeps growing: EU leaders expect the Commission to present "options" for restricting trade with Israel's illegal settlements: euobserver.com/223019/eu-le... #EUCO Banning that trade is not an option; it's an obligation, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu: hrw.org/news/2025/02...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
SCOOP: the EU knew there was ground to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement already in 2017 Israeli crimes got exponentially worse since. But Germany & Italy – of all countries – continue to prevent EU compliance with the Genocide Convention @euobserver.com ➡️ euobserver.com/221434/stric...
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Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 10/06/2026
The European Commission has invited a Taliban delegation for a meeting on migration talks in the upcoming weeks. This invitation sends the wrong message at the wrong time, says HRW's Fereshta Abbasi. Learn more ⤵️
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Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 25/05/2026
Israeli authorities’ violations of international law have continued and are enabled and fueled by impunity. An impunity granted also by Europe’s inaction, which comes at an unbearable human and economic cost for millions in the region and beyond. HRW's @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social 👇
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Why the EU should act on Israeli crimes, what tools it has at its disposal, and why it hasn't used them yet Speech before the UN Palestinian Rights Committee: youtube.com/watch?v=PbpF... ✍🏼 www.un.org/unispal/docu...
youtube.com
"When it comes to Israeli crimes ... the EU has chosen not to act" says Claudio Francavilla
YouTube video by UN Palestine Committee
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
UE : nouvelles sanctions contre les colons israéliens, mais les ministres qui soutiennent occupation & apartheid restent épargnés Pire encore, en s'opposant à l'interdiction du commerce avec les colonies, plusieurs gouvernements financent les abus qu'ils condamnent : lemonde.fr/internationa...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
All EU states agreed to sanction Israeli settlers, but several are against measures to ensure EU trade doesn't feed occupation and apartheid They seem to care more about illegal settlements than about those ethnically cleansed to make space for them @euobserver.com: euobserver.com/216078/eu-to...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
A step in the right direction, but so many more needed for the EU to comply with international law Settlers are state-backed - as is #Israel 's unlawful occupation, apartheid, torture, genocidal campaign in #Gaza, and Gaza-fication of #Lebanon May this be a late start, @kajakallas.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
1/2) The EU will fund €6M in projects to "protect" Palestinians from Israeli settler attacks. If it took measures to enforce international law, there would be no settlers to begin with - and to protect Palestinians from: euobserver.com/215523/eu-gi... ⤵️...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
#Orban is gone. The rule that let him sabotage EU foreign policy should go too. After years of Orbán vetoes, 🇪🇺 states hopefully realise they have more to gain than lose by ditching the veto power. Qualified majority needed - starting from human rights: euobserver.com/213543/hunga...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
1/2 🧵 #Sudan: @thesentryorg.bsky.social investigation finds the #UAE provides safe haven for #RSF leadership’s family & wealth: thesentry.org/reports/24m-... It adds to growing evidence of UAE backing of the paramilitary group, accused of genocidal acts by a UN report: hrw.org/news/2026/02...
thesentry.org
$24M Property Safe Haven in Dubai Linked to the RSF - The Sentry
April 2026 Download the full alert قرأ التقرير باللغة العربية A network of family members, sanctioned individuals, and entities linked to the leadership of Sudan’s brutal Rapid Support Forces (RSF) mi...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
#BREAKING: 🇫🇷 & 🇸🇪 urge ban of EU trade with Israel's illegal settlements The ICJ was clear. And Europe can't claim with a straight face it wants a "2-state solution" and compliance with int'l law, while it bankrolls land-grabbing & apartheid: euobserver.com/212235/franc... @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu
euobserver.com
France joins EU sanctions pressure on Israel
"The ever and fast deteriorating situation calls for such action [on Israel", a joint Franco-Swedish proposal said.
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
#Israel continues to kill, torture, bomb, displace millions in the OPT, #Lebanon and beyond EU concerns are useless, and concrete measures can’t stay forever “on the table”. It’s way past time to act, @kajakallas.bsky.social Letter by 60+ NGOs & unions: www.amnesty.eu/news/eu-isra...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
EU ministers who “don’t want #Lebanon to become the second #Gaza” shouldn’t forget it’s their slogans and inaction that allowed the first one to happen. It’s beyond time to move from words to action, suspend the 🇪🇺-🇮🇱Association Agreement 👉🏼 euobserver.com/210469/eu-sa... @kajakallas.bsky.social
euobserver.com
EU sanctions back on agenda amid Israel’s ‘carnage’ in Lebanon
"Bodies on the ground. Blood everywhere ... countless wounded adults and children" in Beirut after Israeli strikes, but its EU allies say Israel "blame game" would not help.
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
There is a direct line between #Trump threatening civilization erasure (=nuke) in #Iran and #EU leaders not even mentioning (!) US & Israel in cowardly statements That's where impunity begins. And that's what atrocities by fanatic, genocidal, megalomaniac leaders thrive on @kajakallas.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
In 2022, a petition to ban EU trade with settlements fell short of reaching the 1M signatures threshold over 1 year A new one demanding full suspension of the 🇪🇺-🇮🇱 Association Agreement is nearing 700K - in less than 3 months: eci.ec.europa.eu/055/public/#...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
#Israel 's new death penalty bill entrenches #apartheid, violates international law and crosses EU red lines 30+ humanitarian & rights groups urge the EU to finally move from concerns to action, including the suspension of the Association Agreement: hrw.org/news/2026/04... @kajakallas.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Israel’s approval of #apartheid death penalty bill despite allies’ “deep concerns” proves once again that statements don’t work. Sa’ar’s reactions irrelevant, the bill is there. We are sick and tired of EU concerns. What we need is EU action, @kajakallas.bsky.social euobserver.com/209053/israe...
euobserver.com
Israel scorns EU criticism of new Knesset law to hang Arab ‘terrorists’
The terrorism bill is worded to apply to ethnic Palestinians convicted in future of murdering Jewish Israelis for political reasons.
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Human Rights Watch auf Deutsch @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
🧵 Israels Parlament will heute ein Gesetz zur Ausweitung der Todesstrafe beschließen. Seine Wirkung ist eindeutig: Es richtet sich de facto ausschließlich gegen Palästinenser*innen. Mit @amnesty.de, @oxfam-de.bsky.social, @medico.de uvm. haben wir uns an die Bundesregierung gewandt ⬇️
tagesspiegel.de
Plant Israel die Todesstrafe für palästinensische Terroristen?: „Das wäre ein deutlicher Verstoß gegen die Menschenrechte“
Die Todesstrafe ist in Israel faktisch ausgesetzt. Nun könnte sie wiedereingeführt werden – und sich ausschließlich gegen Palästinenser richten, warnen Hilfsorganisationen.
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
As the Knesset moves towards an appalling #apartheid #DeathPenalty bill, the #EU delusionally "encourages" #Israel to abide by its human rights obligations under the Association Agreement Same obligations the EU's long found Israel to be in breach of - and did nothing about @kajakallas.bsky.social
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
#WesternSahara: UN-backed autonomy proposal is at odds with right to self-determination: ❌ Excludes independence option ❌ Reparations, right of return not mentioned ❌ Right-holders not identified ❌ #Morocco 's repression impedes "free & genuine will" Read @hrw.org analysis: hrw.org/news/2026/03...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
#Lebanon: 1M displaced, 1000+ killed, widespread destruction. Gaza is the blueprint, Israeli govt said so: hrw.org/news/2026/03... The EU can sit and watch; or it can finally halt arms, adopt sanctions, suspend trade deal, support ICC. Just, please, spare us the concerns. @kajakallas.bsky.social
hrw.org
Israeli Officials Signal Stepped-Up Atrocities in Lebanon
Israeli forces have expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon after indicating an intent to forcibly displace residents, destroy civilian homes and conduct strikes that could target civilians, Hu...
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 23/03/2026
The #EU & #Australia have been racing to conclude trade deals, while paying lip service to defending the "international rules-based order" those very deals depend on In fact, their abusive migration policies, double standards have been weakening it @hrw.org: hrw.org/news/2026/03...
hrw.org
As EU and Australia Sign Trade Deal, Will They Defend Rules-Based Order?
This week, European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic will visit Canberra in anticipation of signing a free trade agreement with Australia.
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Claudio Francavilla @claudiofrancavilla.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
“Courage is as contagious as cowardice is infectious”, as wonderful writer Omar el Akkad put it And boy, does EU need more courage, leadership, and action to uphold international law & human rights consistently, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu @kajakallas.bsky.social @eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu
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