The European Commission kept distances on Friday from statements by Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera, which described Israel’s military attack on Gaza as genocide.

“It is not up to the committee to rule on this issue and its definition, but really the courts,” Commission spokesman Paula Pinio said when asked if Rivera expressed the official position of the institution. “And there is no decision on the body of the Commissioners on this issue. That’s what I can say, “he added.

Spokesman Anuar El Anuni added: “The finding of whether international crimes have been committed, including genocide, is the responsibility of national courts as well as international courts and courts that may have jurisdiction. And the legal characterization of such an act, an act of genocide, requires the proper finding of events and a legal crisis. “

European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera described Israeli businesses for the first time in Gaza as a “genocide”, making it the first high -ranking EU official. that used this term.

Speaking on Thursday at the University of Sciences Po in Paris, Ribera said: “Genocide in Gaza reveals Europe’s failure to act and speak with a voice, while demonstrations are spreading to European cities and 14 members of the UN Security Council.”

Her statements caused an immediate conviction from Israel, with the Foreign Ministry describing them as “unfounded”, claiming that Rimmera “became a handful of Hamas propaganda”.

Ribera has previously opposed Israeli businesses in Gaza, but her speech on Thursday was the first time she explicitly used the term “genocide”.