Israel (Washington Insider Magazine) – Israel has sharply condemned Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, the EU’s outgoing envoy to the Palestinians, following his paragliding demonstration over Gaza’s coast to highlight the ongoing blockade. In a video, Burgsdorff proudly claimed to be the first person to paraglide over Gaza, expressing hope that one day, a “free Gaza” would allow similar freedoms for all. The Israeli foreign ministry responded, labeling the action as “provocative propaganda” for Gaza-based militant groups, accusing the diplomat of abandoning impartial representation of the EU’s stance.
Israel’s foreign ministry spokesperson argued that Burgsdorff’s act undermines the EU’s neutrality, aligning the diplomat with Gaza’s controlling militant factions, specifically referring to groups like Hamas, a Palestinian faction classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the EU, and other countries.
In response, the EU delegation clarified that the paraglider used was owned by Burgsdorff and stated that the flight was a “purely local and sports activity,” conducted without prior notification to Israeli authorities. The two-day trip also included a kayaking excursion, marking the end of Burgsdorff’s mission in the region.
With approximately 2.1 million people residing in Gaza under a severe Israeli-Egyptian blockade imposed since 2007, Burgsdorff’s actions have ignited debate about the effectiveness and ethical implications of the blockade, with human rights groups decrying it as collective punishment.
